Lina Island Grounding

September 19, 2018 - 8:15 am

Fuel and contaminated sea water continues to be offloaded from the grounded barge. Safety, protection of the environment, and protection of areas of cultural significance remain the primary goals of the operation. In light of these goals, the offloading process will require several days to complete. 

Sampling and air quality monitoring are ongoing. Environmental monitoring also continues. 

For the full press release, please visit HaiCo's website. 

The next update will be posted as soon as new information is available. 

(Grounded accommodation barge with lightering equipment nearby - September, 2018)

September 17, 2018 - 8:55 am

Night operations took place on Sunday night (September 16) and into Monday morning to allow for the Environmental Unit to conduct surveys and ground sampling of sensitive sites near the incident. 

The protection boom put in place on Friday (September 14) continues to be monitored. Contractors worked to plug and patch the hull of the barge on Saturday (September 15). Detailed depth sounding around the barge was also conducted on Saturday to help inform the salvage plan.

Specialized equipment arrived at the incident site on Sunday (September 16) to help transfer cargo and remove fuel from the grounded barge. Removal of the fuel and other hazardous materials is expected to start this morning (Monday, September 17).

The team at the Incident Command Post has completed detailed plans in preparation for cargo transfer and fuel removal. These plans take into account safety measures, protection of the environment, including disposal of hazardous waste and contaminants, and protection of areas of cultural significance. To view the official news release, please visit HaiCo's website.    

Air quality monitoring is ongoing while operational teams are in the field. The notice to shipping exclusion area remains in place. 

The next update will be posted as soon as new information is available. 

September 14, 2018 - 9:30 am

Working in conjunction with the air technicians on site, the team is actively monitoring air quality to allow for safe operations. Ongoing damage assessments of the hull will be performed as safety considerations permit. As well, the team continues to determine and control the source of the sheen.

On September 12th, booms were placed immediately north and south of the site as a precautionary measure to protect culturally sensitive sites in the immediate area. While the team works to continue finalizing the salvage and lightering plan (transfer of cargo), sampling for hydrocarbons continues and an environmental assessment is being conducted.

Unified Command (UC) continues to provide oversight to the operation. In ongoing efforts to keep key parties informed, UC presented an update to the Hereditary Chiefs Council.

Further updates will be posted as the situation changes.

September 13, 2018 - 3 pm

The operations team re-assessed the barge on September 12 and was cleared to proceed. At this point they attempted to fill the holes on the barge and reduce the ingress and regress of water in order to reduce the sheen on the environment. On-water operations yesterday were oriented around the deployment of deflection booms.

Today, the operations team will ventilate the hull to ensure the safety of all responders and allow for continued operations. Ongoing damage assessments of the hull will be performed as safety considerations permit. The operations team is working to determine and control the source of pollution.

While the team works to finalize a salvage and cargo transfer plan, sampling for hydrocarbons and an environmental impact assessment is being conducted.

Unified Command (UC) continues to provide oversight to the operation. In ongoing efforts to keep key parties informed, UC presented an update to the Hereditary Chiefs Council.

September 12, 2018 - 12 pm

As a reminder to mariners in the area: the Canadian Coast Guard has established an emergency zone extending 0.2nm/370m in all seaward direction extending from the barge. Safety is the top priority while efforts continue to secure the barge, monitor and improve air quality.  All mariners are advised to keep out of the emergency zone and avoid transiting the area without Canadian Coast Guard approval.

September 11, 2018 - 5 pm

The barge continues to rest at Guudaa Kunt’as Gwaay.yaay, Lina Island. A small amount of pollution has been observed and steps have been taken to contain and recover where possible. Continual air quality monitoring will occur around the incident site to ensure safety of all response personnel.

Today, the operations team focused on inspecting the underbody for damage while conducting air monitoring. During the inspection, where possible, manhole patch covers will be opened to increase natural ventilation. Time and air quality permitting, the team will secure the barge to the beach. Additional field staff were deployed to take samples in high priority areas.

September 11, 2018 - 1 pm

A HaiCo Westcoast Resorts fishing lodge broke loose Saturday night from its mooring in Alliford Bay around 9:00 pm and beached at Guudaa Kunt’as Gwaay.yaay Lina Island, Xaayda Gwaay Haida Gwaii.

The barge is stable and no pollution has been observed in the surrounding environment. The incident is being overseen by representatives of HaiCo, Council of the Haida Nation, Village of Queen Charlotte, B.C. Government and the Canadian Coast Guard operating out of the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources and Rural Development in Daajing Giids, Village of Queen Charlotte.

Resources have also been mobilized to monitor the situation including contractors retained by HaiCo, the Council of Haida Nation, the Village of Queen Charlotte, and Provincial and Federal government resources including the Canadian Coast Guard ship the Gordon Reid.