[STEWART MCKELVEY STIRLING SCALES LETTERHEAD]

                                                              Exhibit 5.3


                                                              February 10, 1997

Statia Terminals Canada, Incorporated
3817 Port Malcolm Road
Richmond County NS B0E 2V0

- -and-

Point Tupper Marine Services Limited
3817 Port Malcolm Road
Richmond County NS BOE 2VO

Dear Sirs:

We have acted as Canadian counsel to Statia Terminals Canada,
Incorporated ("Statia Canada") and Point Tupper Marine Services Limited ("PTMS")
in connection with the registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration
Statement"), to be filed with the Securities Exchange Commission in connection
with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of
$135,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 11 3/4% First Mortgage Notes due
2003, Series B (the "New Notes") to be offered and issued by the Issuers and the
guarantee of the Notes by PTMS as one of the Subsidiary Guarantors (the "New
Guarantee"), under an Indenture dated as of November 27, 1996 among the Issuers,
the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined therein) and Midland Marine Bank, as
Trustee.

Upon the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that: (a) the
issuance of the New Notes has been duly and validly authorized by Statia Canada,
and when the New Notes have been duly issued, executed and delivered by Statia
Canada in accordance with the terms of the Registration



February 10, 1997
Page 2



Rights Agreement (as defined in the Registation Statement) and the Indenture 
(as defined in the Registration Statement, the New Notes will be legally valid
and binding obligations of Statia Canada, except as to the enforceability
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other
similar loss affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and by
general equitable principles (regardless of whether the issue of enforceability
is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law; and (b) the issuance of the
New Guarantee has been duly and validly authorized by PTMS, and when the New
Guarantee has been duly issued, executed and delivered by PTMS in accordance
with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement and the Indenture, the New
Guarantee will be a legally valid and binding obligation of PTMS, except as the
enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization
or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally
and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether the issue of
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).


        We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the references to this firm under the heading
"Legal Matters" and under the heading "Risk Factors--Enforceability of Certain
Civil Liabilities" in the prospectus which is part of the Registration
Statement.

                                                           Yours truly,

                                                STEWART McKELVEY STIRLING SCALES

RKJ/dbm