As an avid environmentalist/kayaker/boater and a long-time resident of Kitimat, I was pleased to see Andrew Findlay's appropriate coverage and warnings about the energy corridor that is emerging at Kitimat ["Pipeline would bring tankers into B.C. inlets", February 5-12].

In reality, it is already an energy port with over 20 years of tanker traffic for various companies including Ocelot, Methanex, Pacific Ammonia, and Encana. It is worrisome enough having big tankers travelling Douglas and other channels carrying condensate and possibly liquified natural gas, but the thought of crude oil transport terrifies me.

One aspect that is missed in Findlay's excellent coverage is the tanker routing required by the Canadian Pilotage Authority. Findlay talks about the tankers coming through the natural larger open southern approach of Caamano Sound but seems to be unaware that the established route is actually the northern one through Principe and Otter channels, which has been used for over 30 years with Alcan, Eurocan, and Methanex freighters and tankers.

The reason they do this is for the convenience of the Canadian pilotage station at Prince Rupert, the only pilot station on the North Coast. Were you aware that all the shipping is basically steered north of the Queen Charlotte Islands through Dixon Entrance, passing the very shallow Rose Spit on the Charlottes to Triple Island, where the pilots then take over the navigation to Prince Rupert or the private port of Kitimat? Basically, they go that extra distance and perhaps through longer, more treacherous routes for the convenience of Canada's pilotage service.

Shouldn't the main consideration be the shortest, widest, safest route? Perhaps there should be a separate pilot station at Princess Royal Island. It's time that politicians and the public reevaluate this procedure. Why wait for oil tankers?

> Walter Thorne / Kitimat