Sinking boat draws fast response
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Updated: August 24, 2009 8:52 AM
Last week’s sinking of a derelict fishing vessel at Centennial Wharf has prompted officials from the Salt Spring Harbour Authority to consider imposing maintenance standards for vessels moored at the Ganges facility.
“This has certainly made us very aware that there has to be some minimal standards of maintenance and we will be discussing this with vessel owners,” said Bob Morrisette, manager of the harbour authority.
Morrisette said damage to the marine environment was minimized thanks to boaters who responded as soon as the 35-foot vessel began to sink at around 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
“They they just happened to be at their boat and did what they could,” he said. “Everyone handled the situation very well.”
By the time Ganges Coast Guard officers arrived on the scene at approximately 7:30 a.m., the Sion was completely submerged.
“We didn’t actually see it because it was still under water,” said Al Hoskins, local officer in charge. “The only things sticking out were the antennas.”
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