By Ian Holmes

Transport Canada ruling expected shortly on sunken tug in Nanaimo harbour

Oct 12, 2016 | 5:12 PM

NANAIMO — The Nanaimo Port Authority is confident that it won’t be long before one of two sunken tug boats in the Harbour will be removed.

Port Authority Harbour Master Edward Dahlgren says a Transport Canada ruling is expected shortly regarding  Samantha J which sank more than two years ago in Northumberland Channel between Duke Point and Gabriola Island. Dahlgren notes Samantha J went down in a federal anchorage which has forced cargo traffic to anchor in unregulated waters in the southern gulf islands.

“We’ll deal with the ‘Albern’ as a direct by-product of the hearing from the Samantha J, but although it’s the same desired end state, it’s a different process and a different activity,” said Dahlgren.

The Samantha J gushed 1,800 litres of diesel when it went down, while the Albern spewed about 1,000 litres of diesel, according to Dahlgren. The Albern sank last May after colliding with another tug also in the Northumberland Channel, not far from the Samatha J. Dahlgren says the current case with Transport Canada involves the Port Authority and the insurance company representing Jones Marine Group. A decision is expected in short order, as Dahlgren notes a weather window is shortening for the potential removal of Samantha J. 

He says the Nanaimo Port Authority has full confidence in the Jones Marine Group, despite the fact two of its boats sit on the ocean floor.

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“The ownership has undergone a very thorough safety review of their training, their equipment procedures. They’ve made some staffing changes to reflect a stronger embracing of safety culture.”

Dahlgren says Jones Marine Group is a heavy user in the Nanaimo harbour and has a long history of good service in the mid and south Vancouver Island areas, but has had a run of “unfortunate luck.”

He added that the the company has just built a new vessel specifically for the Nanaimo Harbour.

Dahlgren says several organizations support their bid to get the company’s insurer to remove the Samantha J from the ocean floor, including the navigation community for its loss of an anchorage zone and the Snuneymuxw First Nation.