If/when Alberta reduces gasoline shipment to BC, we can still get it from Washington (tho at a higher price, from what I recall).
I agree with the earlier post that the pipeline is a great deal for Alberta - they get the profits, while BC gets the risk. The notion that pipelines don't leak or tankers don't leak is ludicrous. A pipeline leaked in Northern US just a few months ago. The company didn't know how much had leaked (it was a remote area).
Double-hulled tankers have reduced risk of losing their cargo (oil) but its not zero risk - a severe hit on rocks can puncture both hulls. A collision with another ship (as recently occurred off the coast of China) can still cause severe damage/death/fire. Take a look at the pictures of the FITZGERALD and MCCAIN, two US destroyers hit by the bulbous bows of tankers. These were well-sensored warships, relatively highly-maneuverable, and both got hit (for slightly different reasons) and the tankers' bows punched FEET into each hull. A double-hulled tanker would have been similarly damaged, only with the result being the tank contents would flow into the water - they're not designed for that type of damage and don't have the crew to handle it.
The threat to killer whales isn't collision - you're right that an orca can run circles around almost anything man-made. Its the general noise from the machinery that interferes with their lives and potential impact to salmon. Imagine trying to eat/live with throbbing vibrations reverberating thru your skull 24/7 - that's the primary concern with increased shipping noises in these areas. Those noises have improved over time (shipping companies realized that quieter engines tend to be more reliable, which costs less and require less crew) but tripling the shipping triples the noise.
Tripling the ships is a REAL concern - it would just be a matter of WHEN an accident is going to occur. Seattle/Tacoma can handle much more because their bays are quite open and accessible - lots of ships can flow in and out w/ plenty of room to maneuver. The straits up to Vancouver wind thru rocky passes that are invitations to mistakes. BC Ferries go thru a tight pass many times a day, but in ships that are AT MOST 20% as big as a tanker and far more maneuverable and well-manned (Transport Canada is more stringent on manning). The ships also require pilots - triple the ships requires triple the pilots and these guys/gals don't grow on trees or qualify with a few runs.
Kinder Morgan has to have some robust contingency plans before allowed to operate the pipeline and Alberta should also be stepping up to the plate, financially and thru planning.
That being said, the pipeline is most likely a necessity to keep Alberta/Canada competitive for the next decade. I truly believe renewable energy and other sources are the future, BUT there's NO WAY oil is going anywhere anytime soon! Canada may as well be the producer and make some money from it and have some international leverage. I sympathize with the Green party and environmentalists, but also agree they should set their sights on coal export, salmon fish farms, and other issues first. Drawing a line in the sand on pipelines reduces their credibility and won't gain them much support by the millions employed in oil/gas industry.
