Latest news with #McBarge
Global News
04-07-2025
- General
- Global News
‘Cautious optimism' on cleanup for wrecked former B.C. ferry
There is renewed hope that a toxic eyesore in Mission, B.C., could be removed within the next few months. The Queen of Sidney, a former BC Ferries vessel, was consumed by flames in early May along the Fraser River, where it's been moored since 2002. The Coast Guard says the vessel doesn't pose an immediate threat to the environment, and that efforts are well underway to identify suitable options for its removal. Mission Mayor Paul Horn said the community has a 'cautious optimism' that progress is being made. 1:49 Massive mess left behind after Queen of Sidney ferry fire 'We understand that the new owner of the vessel is working hard to sell it to a salvage operation and have it moved,' he said. Story continues below advertisement Despite that Horn says the municipality has faced numerous hurdles in getting anyone to take responsibility for the cleanup. 'We are not just dealing with the Coast Guard, we are dealing with DFO (Fisheries and Oceans Canada), we're dealing with Transport Canada, we're dealing with the federal Ministry of Environment, we're dealing with provincial agencies and it's almost impossible to find out who is responsible specifically for addressing these issues,' he told Global News. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy While federal officials say the vessel isn't leaking anything and therefore isn't an environmental hazard, Horn disagrees. Horn said the frustration is only heightened by the fact that the city has been formally pushing to have the vessel dealt with since 2007. 'The best we've been able to accomplish is having it securely moored on the shore and having the other area around the foreshore cleaned up,' he said. 'There are no resources federally or provincially for cleaning up vessels or removing vessels and the penalties and fines for these vessels being left in this condition are just not there.' 1:59 Derelict Queen of Sidney ferry burns in overnight fire Derelict vessels are a growing problem plaguing the province's coastal communities. Story continues below advertisement And despite the federal government passing new legislation targeting wrecked and abandoned vessels in 2019, enforcement has lagged. It's a problem that's all too familiar for the residents of Maple Ridge, where the so-called 'McBarge' has been an eyesore for decades — and recently sank. It remains mired in the Fraser River with no clear timeline for a cleanup. 'When situations like this come up, it's not just a money issue, although that is a big part of it, but it's also an issue of jurisdiction. Who's responsible for it? You have to get permission to actually move the vessel,' Maple Ridge Mayor Dan Ruimy said. 'When a vessel goes down, does the owner actually have enough money to remove that vessel? And that's really a big part of the problem. When you have multiple owners or when you have owners who are no longer there, it becomes a game of hot potato.' Horn said that while the immediate priority is dealing with the wreck, in the long term he's also advocating for a reform of the derelict vessel system. 'We know that this is something that exists not just in Maple Ridge but all across our coast and so we're going to work with other municipalities, both of our MPs have said they're willing to go and advocate a petition on this issue in the fall legislature session,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'We will be asking collectively for a renewal of the derelict vessel fund, we'll be asking for clarity on the jurisdictional authority of each of the various departments, we'll be asking that those different enforcement agencies work in a collaborative and team-based approach on these complex files and we'll ask for more resources for the cleanup of leaks and other hazardous materials that come out of them.'
Global News
05-06-2025
- General
- Global News
They're back: Windstorm-wrecked vessels in Vancouver renew derelict boat concerns
It's a perennial story on the British Columbia coast, a zombie problem that's as undead as its subject matter: derelict boats. The issue is back in the spotlight after a recent windstorm washed at least four watercraft ashore along Vancouver's Sunset Beach. The collection of wrecks includes two sailboats, a jet ski and a derelict dinghy. 2:10 McBarge sinking in Fraser River highlights problem of derelict boats It comes amid growing scrutiny of the issue, following two high-profile derelict boat incidents in the Fraser River: the sinking of the so-called 'McBarge' and the fiery destruction of a former BC Ferries vessel. Story continues below advertisement John Roe, co-founder of the Dead Boat Disposal Society said it's a frustrating problem that's seen little improvement in years. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We need legislation changed both provincially and federally,' he said. 'We also need enforcement of ownership of boats.' Roe said he believes federal officials have been marked for removal, but added it's a slow process with no clear timeline. 'If they are tagged, they will get taken off — it's just a question of when.' Advocates for derelict boat removal say the process is often complicated by overlapping municipal, provincial and federal jurisdictions, combined with a lack of funding and political willpower. 1:35 Derelict vessels to be removed from Nicomekl River The Canadian Coast Guard is the lead agency when vessels pose an environmental or navigation hazard, whereas the removal of low-risk vessels falls to Transport Canada. Story continues below advertisement 'Owners are responsible for the costs of addressing their problem vessel. This includes cleanup or repairs, and any remediation action taken by the Canadian Coast Guard,' the Coast Guard said in a statement. While that's supposed to be the case, Roe said it's not always easy to determine who they belong to or to follow up with them. He believes the problem could be addressed more quickly if boat registrations were handled under existing provincial agencies. 'I think if we switched them over to ICBC and made that move, that you know … you're required to insure your car and you're required to license your vehicle too. Why should it be any different for your boat, regardless of its size,' he said. Roe added he'd like to see the issue handled more proactively, with federal or provincial officials giving owners of aging boats the opportunity to turn them in. 'I'd like to see a bring out your dead boat day … you register for your boat to get disposed of and we crunch 'em up,' he said.
CBC
03-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Residents of Mission, B.C., told to shelter in place after fire on derelict vessel
Some residents of the Fraser Valley city of Mission have been told to shelter in place after a fire on a derelict vessel overnight on Saturday. The City of Mission issued an emergency alert just before 4 a.m. PT warning of a fire on the abandoned Queen of Sidney ferry, which was moored just northwest of Matsqui Island approximately 55 km east of Vancouver. B.C. Ferries says the ship was in operation from 1960 to 2000. The 102-metre vessel was sold in 2002. Its current owner is unknown. On its website, Mission says the cause of the fire is not yet known but it is considered to be suspicious. Residents near the fire — from Chester Street to 287 Street, including the Silverdale area — have been told to stay indoors, close all windows and doors, and turn off any ventilation systems that draw in air from outside. "Police attended the area and confirmed a large plume of smoke coming from the vessel, which had an obvious impact on air quality in the area," read a statement from Mission RCMP on Saturday morning. Police said that, as of Saturday morning, there was nothing to indicate the fire was intentionally set — but investigators haven't been able to board the vessel due to the hazardous nature of the smoke. CBC News has reached out to the Canadian Coast Guard for this story. A spokesperson for the Environment Ministry deferred comment to the Mission fire department. The Queen of Sidney is among a number of derelict vessels along B.C. waterways that have raised environmental concerns in recent years, particularly given they could pose public safety risks. In late March, the iconic McBarge vessel — a barge which housed a McDonald's restaurant during Expo 86 — sank on the Fraser River near Maple Ridge, B.C., northwest of where the Queen of Sidney was moored.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents of Mission, B.C., told to shelter in place after fire on derelict vessel
Some residents of the Fraser Valley city of Mission have been told to shelter in place after a fire on a derelict vessel overnight on Saturday. The City of Mission issued an emergency alert just before 4 a.m. PT warning of a fire on the abandoned Queen of Sidney ferry, which was moored just northwest of Matsqui Island approximately 55 km east of Vancouver. B.C. Ferries says the ship was in operation from 1960 to 2000. The 102-metre vessel was sold in 2002. Its current owner is unknown. On its website, Mission says the cause of the fire is not yet known but it is considered to be suspicious. Residents near the fire — from Chester Street to 287 Street, including the Silverdale area — have been told to stay indoors, close all windows and doors, and turn off any ventilation systems that draw in air from outside. CBC News has reached out to the Canadian Coast Guard for this story. A spokesperson for the Environment Ministry deferred comment to the Mission fire department. The Queen of Sidney is among a number of derelict vessels along B.C. waterways that have raised environmental concerns in recent years, particularly given they could pose public safety risks. In late March, the iconic McBarge vessel — a barge which housed a McDonald's restaurant during Expo 86 — sank on the Fraser River near Maple Ridge, B.C., northwest of where the Queen of Sidney was moored.
CBC
03-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Residents of Mission, B.C., told to shelter in place after fire on derelict vessel
Some residents of the Fraser Valley city of Mission have been told to shelter in place after a fire on a derelict vessel overnight on Saturday. The City of Mission issued an emergency alert just before 4 a.m. PT warning of a fire on the abandoned Queen of Sidney ferry, which was moored just northwest of Matsqui Island approximately 55 km east of Vancouver. B.C. Ferries says the ship was in operation from 1960 to 2000. The 102-metre vessel was sold in 2002. Its current owner is unknown. On its website, Mission says the cause of the fire is not yet known but it is considered to be suspicious. Residents near the fire — from Chester Street to 287 Street, including the Silverdale area — have been told to stay indoors, close all windows and doors, and turn off any ventilation systems that draw in air from outside. CBC News has reached out to the Canadian Coast Guard for this story. A spokesperson for the Environment Ministry deferred comment to the Mission fire department. The Queen of Sidney is among a number of derelict vessels along B.C. waterways that have raised environmental concerns in recent years, particularly given they could pose public safety risks. In late March, the iconic McBarge vessel — a barge which housed a McDonald's restaurant during Expo 86 — sank on the Fraser River near Maple Ridge, B.C., northwest of where the Queen of Sidney was moored.
