FREDERICTON, New Brunswick – If liquefied natural gas terminals are approved on the Maine side of Passamaquoddy Bay, gunboats escorting huge LNG tankers through Canadian waters will disrupt fishing and tourism, said a New Brunswick politician.

Opposition lawmaker Wayne Steeves said Friday the armed escorts will restrict traffic for a thousand yards on either side of the tankers – and could put people in danger.

“There will be no fishing boats or anything near that tanker. I can assure you it will come to a halt, and if there happens to be fog, they will be stopped, and could stay there for two days,” said Steeves.

“The gunboats are very aggressive, and it will be in sovereign Canadian water. Do you realize the danger that New Brunswickers would be in?” he told the Legislature.

Security measures for the offshore portions of marine terminals are required by U.S. Coast Guard regulations.

The Coast Guard prevents other ships from getting near LNG tankers while in transit or docked at a terminal.

The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is reviewing applications from Quoddy Bay LNG and Downeast LNG to build gas import terminals on the Maine side of the bay.

Under the proposals, LNG tankers feeding the terminals would have to navigate through Head Harbour Passage, the narrow channel between Canada’s Deer Island and Campobello Island, off the southwest coast of New Brunswick.

Opponents already have complained that sharp rocks, strong currents and even the Old Sow – one of the world’s largest ocean whirlpools – are all hazards for shipping in the area.

New Brunswick Finance Minister Victor Boudreau said Friday the opposition is fearmongering with its talk of gunboats.

But Boudreau said the Liberal government remains firmly opposed to the tankers in the narrow passage.

The province has been granted intervenor status for the U.S. approval hearings.

“That’s going to give us an opportunity to go there as a province and to defend the province’s interest, whether it be relating to tourism, fisheries, agriculture, public safety, all those issues. That’s why we registered as an intervenor, something the former government didn’t do,” Boudreau said.

Boudreau told reporters the province could appeal to the courts if the U.S. regulator approves the facilities.

But Steeves said “could” isn’t strong enough.

He said Premier Shawn Graham seemed to weaken his stance this week during a visit to New Brunswick by Maine Gov. John Baldacci.

Graham, who is eager to develop closer ties with Maine, is saying only that he has “major concerns” about the proposed developments.

Graham said Wednesday the U.S. regulatory body “will have the final say.”

The Canadian government formally notified the U.S. regulatory commission last week that it will not allow LNG tankers through Head Harbour Passage.

The government considers the passage within Canadian jurisdiction.

However, LNG proponents insist the waters are part of a territorial sea where international ships have right of passage.