Wednesday, November 2, 2022

FV Fairwind set for Deconstruction Journey ... to Campbell River

The FV Fairwind is not long for it's time of squatting in Port Edward 
Harbour. The Canadian Coast Guard today outlined how it will move
the abandoned vessel towards shipbreaking

(photo from CCG FB)

The removal of the second of the two maritime eyesores that have made life frustrating for the District of Port Edward is about to get underway. 

Though if the latest update from the Canadian Coast Guard is an indication, there has been a change in plans as to how the deconstruction of the FV Fairwind will take place.

Through their Social Media feeds today, the Canadian Coast Guard outlined how the long abandoned and derelict former 137 foot fishing vessel will be removed from Port Edward Harbour and shipped off for deconstruction in Campbell River on Vancouver Island.


As they note, Marine Recycling Corporation has the contract for the transportation of the Abandoned vessel to Vancouver Island, making use of a submersible dry dock (see photo below) to prepare the vessel for transit.

Photo from Canadian Coast Guard FB page

Marine Recycling Corporation is an Ontario based ship recycling company, with some extensive experience over their fifty years of transporting vessels towards their final destiny.

The charting of a course to Campbell River makes for a shift in what appeared to be the plan of local deconstruction from even the start of November.

At the October 3rd Prince Rupert City Council session, the city's councillors had approved plans for a temporary ship breaking site in the Prince Rupert Industrial park.

Though they did so with some questions and having previously planned to include some guarantees back in August as part of their approach to the request.

Whatever conversations may have taken place between the start of October and today, something came along that appears to have made for a change in how the Coast Guard has decided to take care of the unwanted guest for the District.

The decision to prepare for transit in November, which is traditionally a quite stormy period for the waters of the North coast will be of some interest to marine watchers and coastal communities to the south as the FV Fairwind begins its journey.

Regardless of where it's going now, the District of Port Edward will be glad to have the FV Fairwind in its rear view mirror, the District has long been advocating for the removal of the marine eyesore.

The first notice of the twin scourges of Port Edward Harbour
back in September of 2021

Some of our past notes on the saga of the FV Fairwind and the previous derelict vessel Scotch Cap can be reviewed below.

2022

August 22 -- Industrial Park area requested for potential temporary shipwrecking location for abandoned vessel FV Fairwind
February 17 -- Demolition work complete, Port Edward boat launch back in service 
January 10 -- Scotch Cap Dismantling begins today in Port Edward

2021

December 16 -- Barge removal, air monitoring station among work ahead in Port Edward
November 9 -- MP's Correspondence to ne Fisheries Minister highlights urgent crisis facing BC's Wild salmon, concerns over derelict vessels in Port Edward
October 13 -- Prince Rupert Port Authority seeks bids for Deconstruction of Scotch Cap derelict in Port Edward 
October 12 -- Weather and ship groundings make narrative of Port Edward's October update 
September 10 -- Port Edward still waiting for indications someone has a clean up and removal plan for derelict vessels
September 9 -- Port Edward closes access to Porpoise Drive Boat launch after beaching of derelict vessels

More items of interest from the District can be explored here, while City Council themes in Prince Rupert can be reviewed here.

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