Thanks to the landowner who sent me the link. 🙂
by Kendall HansonJanuary 19, 2025 10:50 am
Courtenay-Alberni’s Member of Parliament is weighing in on new entrants wanting to dismantle ships in Port Alberni.
While Gord Johns has been highly critical of a shipbreaking company operating in Union Bay, he’s welcoming the potential new entrants in the Alberni Valley.
This comes despite Johns saying Canada still needs to strengthen its regulations.
Canadian Maritime Engineering is one company that would like to start shipbreaking former BC Ferries vessels in Port Alberni if its bid and plan are approved. The company’s Canal Beach location is on a deep sea port.
The other group, a non-profit called Coastal Restoration Society, wants to break up smaller vessels also close by.
Both operations have the backing of Johns.
“You can’t find two companies with stronger reputations when it comes to workplace safety and meeting and exceeding environmental standards,” said Johns. “So I’m really excited.”
In recent years, Johns has criticized the lack of federal regulations surrounding shipbreaking after Deep Water Recovery started dismantling ships in Union Bay in December 2020.
He’s questioned the government’s lack of clear regulations numerous times in Parliament.
In a statement, Transport Canada says it is “currently looking into ways to strengthen Canadian ship recycling laws or regulations…” and while “there are no specific federal laws or regulations requiring a permit or authorization for shipbreaking activities…federal legislation may apply in certain circumstances when these activities take place in water.”
All three levels of government have different rules surrounding the dismantling of ships.
Provincial governments are responsible for matters related to property, civil rights and local activities on land and above the low-tide mark.
Local or municipal governments are mainly responsible for land-use and zoning rules, including those related to industrial facilities and waste management. They are responsible for the collection, recycling and disposal of waste within their jurisdictions.
The Concerned Citizens of Baynes Sound Society says with the rules being multi-jurisdictional, the group has seen finger-pointing between governments about enforcement in Union Bay.
The grassroots advocacy group says it would like to see a clear set of federal and provincial regulations before anyone else on Vancouver Island gets into the business.
“If you need full containment to build a new ship, then why on earth wouldn’t you need full containment to take apart a 60, 70-year-old ship that has 100 times more carcinogens and toxic materials in that ship? It just doesn’t make any sense,” said Ray Rewcastle, the society’s President.
While Coastal Restoration Society wants to build a full containment facility to dismantle the ships, Candian Maritime Engineering has proposed cutting the ships apart while they sit on the water behind a boom. It says the cutting would happen after hazardous liquids and materials are removed.
Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions says the company’s plans still need more work before getting the city’s approval.
“We have requested that they work directly with Tseshaht and Hupacasath as a starting point before we offer formal support for the projects,” said Minions.
“That said, I think the environment should always be the highest priority, especially in a community like Port Alberni where I think historically, heavy industry has done damage to our environment. We’re wanting to move forward in a better way.”
Johns says Deep Water Recovery lacks social license while the Port Alberni companies will seek community buy-in first.
“They’re not going to do something that they think is going to be harmful to the environment. Their employees live here in the community. They care about the community and they want to ensure they’re working with all local partners,” said Johns.
The Port Alberni Port Authority says it has given its conditional support to both groups wanting to dismantle ships in the city if it’s done in an environmentally friendly way.
All parties say it’s an industry with a lot of potential for jobs and diversifying the region’s economy.
allthingsunionbay 
Moving a ship recycling facility to Pt Alberni is a recipe for future disaster. Look to the past Tsunami history in the Alberni Inlet. Next time there is a serious earthquake on the west coast, and there will be–sooner or later- a Tsunami will be funneled up the Alberni Inlet to cause great damage and spread ship parts around. Look to the past to plan for the future. Take Nature into your plans. And I had not even taken asbestos into consideration. Think about it!
Yours truly gl janice boyes
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