Seeking clarity on ballast water rules on Canada's West Coast

A growing number of Aframax tankers are calling at the Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby, British Columbia, to load crude oil from the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) pipeline.

While TMX began operations in May 2024, Canadian ballast water regulations, dating back to 2021, created some uncertainty about specific requirements for the West Coast.

In response to several member enquiries, Intertanko has sought clarification from Transport Canada on ballast water discharge requirements for West Coast ports.

The East Coast regulations were clear: vessels do not need to exchange treated ballast water or flush empty tanks unless heading to freshwater areas listed in Canada Transport documentation.

However, no such notification had been confirmed for the West Coast.

Transport Canada clarified that only vessels travelling to freshwater ports such as Kitimat, Stewart and Fraser River ports need to comply with the exchange and treat (E+T) procedure.

For Vancouver, vessels heading to berths west of Tilbury or Mitchell Islands on the Fraser River are exempt from E+T, while vessels travelling to berths east of these islands must perform E+T.

The requirement for clarification directly impacts the Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby, BC, a key loading point for crude oil from the TMX pipeline.

Westridge is not a designated freshwater port, and vessels calling there are exempt from the E+T requirement, which simplifies operations for tankers loading at Westridge, aligning with the Vancouver guidelines, but a clarification will give owners and operators peace of mind.

With the increasing number of tankers loading crude from TMX, operators must ensure they comply with these updated ballast water management requirements.

Furthermore, vessels may need to transit or wait in other areas, and non-compliance could lead to penalties or delays, particularly as TMX traffic grows.

In this respect, Intertanko seeking clear guidance on ballast water procedures will ensure smooth operations, while maintaining compliance with environmental protection regulations.