HMCS Preserver leaked fuel into Halifax harbour

An investigation is underway into how 14,000 litres of fuel oil leaked from a navy supply ship into Halifax harbour.

The Department of National Defence says it managed to capture most of the spill, which happened two weeks ago.

The fuel leak occurredat the Imperial Oil wharf in Woodside during the fueling of HMCS Preserver four days after the navy supply ship was released from a refit at the Irving-owned Halifax Shipyard.

Maj. Paul Doucette, spokesman for the Canadian Forces,said the oil was captured behind a containment boom, and then cleaned up by navy crews.

"The next day, an investigation was made further down the harbour in the direction of Eastern Passage to make sure that there wasn't any that was missed, and by all the inspections from there, it was found that everything was kept contained," said Doucette.

He said a problem occurred in a pipe that passes inside a fuel tank and connects to the outside of the hull.

Doucette couldn't say if that pipe was damaged during the refit, or if there was a mistake by navy personnel.

Mary Keith, vice-president of communications for Irving Shipbuilding, said HMCS Preserver was released to the navy after a thorough inspection.

Keith said the company is unaware of any equipment failure related to work performed during the refit.

A fuel industry expert has estimated cleanup costs at about $50,000.

Doucette said the navy is still calculating how much fuel can be recycled and what the final cleanup cost would be.

Doucette said Environment Canada hasstarted its own investigation.