Ladysmith harbour faces new risk from second derelict boat
Coast Guard promises Silver King will be safely dismantled, but still no plans to remove Viki Lyne II
A derelict tug boat that was threatening the shellfish industry in Baynes Sound, B.C. has been towed south to Ladysmith, B.C. But, some are concerned the Canadian Coast Guard will not make good on its promise to dismantle the 30-metre abandoned Silver King.
"It's just that the last time the federal government towed a vessel into Ladysmith it was four years ago, the vessel is still there," said Sheila Malcolmson, MP for Nanaimo-Ladysmith.
She's talking about the Viki Lyne II, which was brought into Ladysmith in 2012 and still has 13,000 litres of fuel on board.
- Derelict ship Viki Lyne 2 threatening Ladysmith Harbour
- Derelict boat fee proposed to pay for cleanup of wrecks
- Victoria to clear derelict boats from Gorge Waterway
Malcolmson has a private members' bill which aims to designate the Coast Guard as the primary responder to derelict and abandoned vessels, but it is only in its first reading in Parliament.
"We can't do it in an adhoc way," she said about having multiple agencies deal with abandoned boats depending on their circumstances. "We can't do it one boat at a time."
Meanwhile the federal Liberals promise they are working on cleaning up derelict boats like the Silver King and the Viki Lyne II.
"We realize that this is an issue and we are making sure that we address it as quickly as possible," said Kate Young, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport.
Meanwhile the Coast Guard said the Silver King will be dismantled and it will continue to monitor the Viki Lyne II.