Issues
Safety
- Freighter Ship size has grown from ~190m to 310m (623’ to 1017’) since the anchorages were first charted. They are too large for Cowichan Bay and too close to shorelines given their size and anchoring requirements. In a 10 knot wind on a NE facing vessel’s bow it would, if left unimpeded, take 60 seconds for the vessel to run aground with potentially disastrous results.
- Occurrences of anchor drag: The BC Liberal government in the November 18, 2009 case of the Hebei Lion dragging its anchor near Mayne, Pender and Saturna Islands did not even know of this possible catastrophe even though it received full media coverage in Washington State.
- There is no readily available west coast Canadian rescue tug. For emergencies as recently seen in respect to the engineless Russian freighter Canada relied on U.S. rescue tugs.
- Ships are monitored in English Bay and Nanaimo Harbour but not in Cowichan Bay
- Recently a container, at a terminal in Vancouver, caught fire. If such an event occurred on a ship anchored in Cowichan Bay there are, as far as we know, no emergency vessels in the vicinity to respond.
Social
Too close to communities
Homes affected by anchorages 1-6 (shoreline from Kil-Pah-Las IR No. 3 to Arbutus Ridge, including Genoa Bay and Musgrave Landing on Salt Spring Island) has grown from ~50 homes in 1970 to ~1000 homes in 2014. In May 2015 the number of anchorages was reduced to 6, prior to this there were 8 anchorages. This came about as a result by the joint actions of Transport Canada, BC Chamber of Shipping and the Pacific Pilot Association.
Some ships abrogate the social license by not following the BC Chamber of Shipping "guidelines" (note: not regulations) regarding minimizing all forms of noise and restricting the usage of deck lights.
Homes affected by anchorages 1-6 (shoreline from Kil-Pah-Las IR No. 3 to Arbutus Ridge, including Genoa Bay and Musgrave Landing on Salt Spring Island) has grown from ~50 homes in 1970 to ~1000 homes in 2014. In May 2015 the number of anchorages was reduced to 6, prior to this there were 8 anchorages. This came about as a result by the joint actions of Transport Canada, BC Chamber of Shipping and the Pacific Pilot Association.
Some ships abrogate the social license by not following the BC Chamber of Shipping "guidelines" (note: not regulations) regarding minimizing all forms of noise and restricting the usage of deck lights.
Environmental
- Cowichan Bay is in a valley. Gensets run constantly emitting CO2, nitrous oxide, sulphur & particulates. Diesel exhaust can cause significant harm to persons within 2 hours.
- Light pollution
- Noise pollution
- Anchor and chain scouring of ocean bottom with impact on marine life
- These vessels typically hold about 5,000,000 litres of crude, that means with all eight anchorages occupied there is 40,000,000 litres of “bunker C” floating in the bay. Thus a grounded or hull penetrating would mean the end of sea life in the bay for at least two generations but probably longer.
- A tiny portion of the B.C. coastline, 2.3% is classified as estuary. The Cowichan River, according to the Canadian Wildlife, is a class 1 estuary. Class 1 estuaries are those considered most valuable for their size, their intertidal biodiversity and the variety of species that use their services. As the only estuary which has large commercial vessels anchoring in its vicinity places it in significant harm if an oil leak occurred.
Emergency Response (Oil Spill Only) Vancouver Island
Response (not a Skimmer)
Cowichan Bay
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Work Skiff
Cowichan Bay
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Work Skiff
Cowichan Bay
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Response Boom
Nanaimo
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Skimmer
Esquimalt
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Primary Area of Response (PAR)
Because a majority of large spills (<1,000 tonnes) occur outside port boundaries where vessels converge, the Coast Guard identified Primary Areas of Response (PARs) as areas associated with Designated Ports that require a specific level of response capability and mobilization within designated times. The PAR for the port Vancouver is defined as “All of the Canadian waters between the northern boundary of a line drawn from the point 49º 46.5’N, 124º 20.5’W on the mainland, through Texada Island, to the point 49º 22.5’N, 124º 32.4’W on the shore of Vancouver Island and the southern boundary consisting a line running along the 48º 25’N parallel from Victoria, eastward, to the Canada-United States border.”
UNDER 2500 TONS Deployed On Scene Within 18 Hours
OVER 2500 TONS Deployed On Scene Within 72 Hours
Because a majority of large spills (<1,000 tonnes) occur outside port boundaries where vessels converge, the Coast Guard identified Primary Areas of Response (PARs) as areas associated with Designated Ports that require a specific level of response capability and mobilization within designated times. The PAR for the port Vancouver is defined as “All of the Canadian waters between the northern boundary of a line drawn from the point 49º 46.5’N, 124º 20.5’W on the mainland, through Texada Island, to the point 49º 22.5’N, 124º 32.4’W on the shore of Vancouver Island and the southern boundary consisting a line running along the 48º 25’N parallel from Victoria, eastward, to the Canada-United States border.”
UNDER 2500 TONS Deployed On Scene Within 18 Hours
OVER 2500 TONS Deployed On Scene Within 72 Hours
Watch a video of a ship in Cowichan Bay at night
Watch a video of a ship very close to shore
The Bay is not always calm
A Storm in Cowichan Bay