The removal of a damaged boat in Howdenvale is expected to be done by the end of the month.
Last week, the Town of South Bruce Peninsula posted on Facebook that the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard have been working with the owner of a boat that is currently pulled up on the shore at the federal government dock in Howdenvale.
A spokesperson for the Coast Guard says, back on March 10th they received a report that Keep the Change, a 30ft fish tug, was sinking at the harbour in Howdenvale. The Coast Guard deployed pollution response equipment and personnel to respond to the threat of marine pollution.
They say the vessel sinking caused bulk diesel to be released into the water. The vessel owner and Chippewas of Nawash Fisheries Assessment Program staff deployed sorbent boom and pads to absorb pollutants and the Coast Guard also deployed a containment boom around the boat to further mitigate the spread of pollution.
The Coast Guard says “The bulk diesel released during the sinking was contained and recovered, though some small amounts remain that will naturally dissipate. The owner submitted a pollution response plan to CCG (The Coast Guard) and engaged contractors to have the vessel secured.”
They explain, “On March 13th, the contractors secured the vessel and removed the majority of pollutants, including bulk fuel and oil. The owner took appropriate action to remove sorbent materials from the water and debris from the dock, and the remaining pollutants have been removed from the vessel.”
The coast Guard says it is in close contact with the vessel owner, who they say is working to dismantle the vessel at its current location. They estimate the work will be completed by the end of May.
They say under Canadian law, owners are responsible for the costs of addressing their problem vessel, including any hazard-related costs like cleanup or repairs, and any remediation action taken by the Canadian Coast Guard.
Meanwhile, the Town says anyone with concerns about the boat or its removal should direct their questions to the Canadian Coast Guard at 1-800-265-0237.
South Bruce Peninsula says, the floating docks the Town typically installs each year cannot be installed until the vessel has been completely removed. They say boaters who want to launch at the federal government dock in Howdenvale can use the launch on the other side of the dock.
