Freighter hits the rocks in Navy Channel
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Updated: November 19, 2009 3:43 PM
High winds forced a freighter onto Conconi Reef in Navy Channel on Wednesday night, spurring a number of agencies into action.
According to Don Rodden, supervisor for environmental response for the Canadian Coast Guard’s Pacific region, the 241-metre bulk carrier Hebei Lion from Hong Kong was dragging its anchor in the storm and ended up on the reef overnight.
Rodden said the call came into the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre from a person ashore at 9:53 p.m. Vessel Traffic then called all vessels in anchorage in that area to determine which one was in trouble. The Hebei Lion called back at 10:12 to say it had touched ground.
“Any grounding can be serious,” Rodden said. “Fortunately it went aground at low water and on a rising tide. If it had been the reverse — at high water — the damage could have been a lot worse. We were fortunate in the timing.”
Rodden said an underwater survey will be conducted to determine if the freighter suffered any damage. He said no pollution resulted from the incident, and that the vessel was not an oil tanker, as suggested by someone who heard the incident unfold on the marine channel last night but did not want to be identified.
The Coast Guard, Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, Transport Canada and pilots were all notified about the incident.
Tugboats were arranged by the ship’s agent, Empire Shipping of Vancouver, said Rodden.
A spokseman for Empire said he could provide no information about the vessel, what it was carrying or the incident without permission from its owner.
However, Rodden speculated that the vessel was empty and on its way to Vancouver to pick up a load of wheat or other bulk material.
Industrial use of Plumper Sound, near Mayne, Pender and Saturna islands, has been an issue of concern for the Islands Trust. Trust Council passed a Dec. 6, 2007 motion expressing its opposition to offloading of industrial freight, specifically gypsum, in that area.
Environment Canada recorded winds of 98 km/h, gusting up to 119 km/h near Saturna Island on Wednesday night.
