CBA-NL Maritime Law

CBA-NL Maritime Law - R. v. M/V MARATHASSA: Trial and Tribulations of a Diligent Shipowner

Description

Join us on June 18 for a Lunch and Learn reflecting on one of the most interesting maritime regulatory cases in recent years, R v M/V Marathassa.

On April 8, 2015, an oil sheen was observed in Vancouver’s English Bay in the vicinity of the M/V Marathassa.  The vessel was ultimately involved in an 80+ day trial on various federal charges, and was acquitted of all charges—making this one of the most interesting cases in maritime regulatory law.  Concurrent attempts to serve a summons on the vessel operator failed so they did not participate in the trial.

On Thursday, June 18, 2026—more than 10 years after the spill—Peter Swanson (founding partner at Bernard LLP, with over 35 years of experience in maritime law) will reflect on his role in the R v M/V Marathassa case and deliver a presentation on the series of decisions and show how the true cause of an oil spill may be hidden deep in the steel.  

This session will be of interest to lawyers practicing in regulatory, litigation, environmental, and administrative law, and anyone interested in how large-scale prosecutions unfold over many years.

Virtual