Port Edward closes access to Porpoise Drive Boat launch after beaching of derelict vessels

Porpoise Drive and access to the boat launch there
has been closed owing to a beaching incident on 
Wednesday in Port Edward

A long standing frustration for the District of Port Edward became an item of note with a little more urgency yesterday, that as the District reported the beaching of two abandoned vessels near the Port Edward Boat Launch.

The vessels in question, a barge the Scotch Cap and a boat the Fair Wind had been the subject of the District's ire for over 14 years, their beaching near the public access dock has resulted in some structural concerns for the dock which will need to be evaluated.

In an information release form September 8th, the District outlined its past concerns over the presence of the two vessels; as well as a bit of history into the level of engagement that they had taken on to try to remedy the situation prior to Wednesday mornings incident.

Since the beaching, the Prince Rupert Port Authority and Canadian Coast Guard have been monitoring the vessels, with a number of agencies on scene to assess and make plans for the clean up required and for removal of the two vessels.

As a result of the incident, the District of Port Edward has limited access to the Boat Launch area to only those personnel deemed essential. 

Porpoise Drive will be closed until further notice and there will be no access to the Boat launch while the ongoing situation is assessed.

The Port, West Coast Marine Response and the Canadian Coast Guard will be the agencies of note related to the clean up, though few details on how they plan to approach the task have been released yet.

More notes from the District can be reviewed here.