Port Edward still waiting for indications someone has a clean up and removal plan for derelict vessels

Boaters will have to make other arrangements
as the Port Edward Boat launch on Porpoise 
Drive remains closed
(from District of Port Edward FB page)

A new sign has gone up in the District of Port Edward, advising of the Closure of the Boat Launch at Porpoise Drive, with no timeline in place for its reopening, that following the incident of September 8th which saw two abandoned vessels break free of their mooring and crash into the facility.

The incident which we noted yesterday,  has left Mayor Knut Bjorndal quite frustrated at the lack of response from political officials at other levels of government, with the Mayor noting in his most recent update that he is still awaiting some kind of response from Bernadette Jordan, the Federal Minster of the Coast Guard and DFO on what the Federal plan may be for a clean up.

The Mayor provided his update to residents through the District's Facebook page, providing for some photos of the area which has left concerns of the hazardous situation posed by the incident.

Photos from the District of Port Edward of the situation
currently in place at the Porpoise Drive Boat Launch area

Complicating the situation for the District is the state of the current Federal government, which is more or less in hibernation mode owing to the Federal election campaign. 

And should there be a change of government on September 20th, Mr. Bjorndal may have to wait until the end of the month at the earliest to find out who is up next on the mailing list to send his correspondences towards.

The incident of this week in the District has gained the attention of current Member of Parliament Taylor Bachrach. The NDP MP who is seeking re-election stated on Social media on Thursday that the "situation in Port Edward is urgent", the MP adding that he has "spoken to the Mayor and reached out to the Canadian Coast Guard for more information."

However closer to home, MLA Jennifer Rice who is currently touring Haida Gwaii, has yet to make mention of the incident, or if there is any way for the Provincial government to act on the issue or advocate for the District with the Federal Government agency.

On Thursday, the District noted in their community update that:

"The District of Port Edward has been lobbying senior levels of government for many years and working in collaboration with the Prince Rupert Port Authority to have these vessels removed"

Considering the length of time the issue has been festering, the representatives of the two other levels of government seem to have let the issue remain off the radar for the most part and now a more dire situation for the District has evolved from it.

More notes on Fort Edward can be reviewed from our archive page.