Canadian authorities have fined a Greek-owned panamax bulker for speeding in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The Goulandris Brothers-managed 87,238-dwt Pelaton (built 2010) was fined CAD 6,000 ($4,885) by Transport Canada for the offence which took place in August.
It has 30 days to pay the penalty or to ask the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada to review the facts of the violation or the amount of the penalty.
Canada says it has been taking action to protect the marine environment, due to the increased presence of whales in the area.
Authorities have implemented a temporary mandatory slowdown of vessels of 20 metres or more to a maximum of 10 knots.
The speed restriction applies to vessels travelling in the western Gulf of St Lawrence, between the Quebec north shore and just north of Prince Edward Island.
This is the third ship to be fined CAD 6,000 for speeding in the designated area in recent weeks and even government vessels have not escaped punishment.
The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Sir William Alexander was recently sanctioned for failing to comply with the requirement to reduce speed as was Regent Seven Seas Cruise Line’s 28,800-gt Seven Seas Navigator (built 1999).
