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A Prince Edward Island provincial court judge has ordered the vessel BBC Nordland to pay a $15,000 penalty for illegally discharging a pollutant in Canadian waters.

On February 22, 2008, the BBC Nordland, a Gibraltar-registered General Dry Cargo vessel, that was docked at the Port of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, spilled approximately 300 litres of hydraulic oil during offloading operations.

As a result of the investigation carried out by Transport Canada, charges under the Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and for Dangerous Chemicals of the Canada Shipping Act were laid against the vessel in Prince Edward Island provincial court.

The vessel pleaded guilty to the charge of illegal discharge of a pollutant in provincial court in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, and was subsequently fined $ 15,000.

The penalty was divided evenly, with $5,000 going to the court, $5,000 to the Environmental Damages Fund and $5,000 to the University of Prince Edward Island biology department for marine research.

John Baird, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, said Canada remains vigilant in bringing polluters to justice. "Canadians place a high priority on the protection of the natural environment and Transport Canada continues to send the message that pollution will not be tolerated," said Minister Baird.

Governmnet department Transport Canada said that it was committed to ensuring environmentally responsible commercial marine operations and to prosecuting marine polluters whenever there is sufficient evidence. "Penalties imposed by the courts act as a deterrent for any would-be polluter," Transport Canada said.

The department said that it continues to work in close cooperation with other federal agencies, such as Fisheries and Oceans, Canadian Coast Guard, Environment Canada, the Department of National Defence and Justice Canada, as well as with other national and international partners in order to eliminate ship-source marine pollution in Canadian waters.