On July 17, the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) conducted a training exercise in Bowen Island's Mannion Bay. The team simulated an oil spill caused by the sinking of a derelict vessel. Trevor Davis, WCMRC's area manager for the south coast, explained that WCMRC's mandate is to deliver safe and effective oil spill response services within B.C.
The Mannion Bay simulation was one of the routine exercises that WCMRC conducts and the organization can draw on a pool of 500 available trained responders, including fishermen and marine contractors.
"The first step was to contain the spill by putting in a boom," Davis said, pointing to one of the three boats that posed as the vessel responsible for the spill. He explained that the idea was to create an even space around the vessel so that the skimming machine could be deployed. In certain circumstances, skimming can be more effective than using absorbent pads and it produces less waste, according to Davis, but Wednesday's choppy waves made the job a little harder.
WCMRC has 31 oil spill response vessels, 52 response trailers and 14 support vehicles. For the training exercise in Mannion Bay, the corporation sent three boats and a truck and trailer containing equipment.
"The Burrard Cleaner number 7 does 28 knots, allowing us to reach Bowen in an hour. It also carries 1,000 feet of boom," Davis said, adding that any response time varies depending on whether the call comes in during hours of operation.
Davis says that if he should get a call involving a derelict vessel, his main concern would be about gasoline and diesel. "A derelict vessel could have a few jerry cans of gasoline or diesel on board and you never know," he said.
For oil spills, Davis says the marine rule is to report it when a drop hits the water. "Chances are that if there is a sheen, it is non-recoverable," he said, adding that the sheen can spread fast, depending on tides and weather conditions.
Even if the spill is deemed non-recoverable, it still should be reported. "That helps to build awareness and keeps it on our minds to be careful," he said.
Davis says that WCMRC is the only Transport Canada certified response organization for Canada's west coast. It covers 27,000 kilometers of coast line and extends to the 200 nautical mile limit. The organization's response area also includes all inland navigable waters in B.C.
WCMRC's state of readiness is funded by the shipping industry and oil handling companies as required by law and Davis adds that the organization is part of a spill response network that includes Transport Canada, Canadian Coast Guard, Environment Canada, the Province of B.C., the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Canadian Wildlife Service, and the Regional Environmental Emergency Team (REET).
On-water pollution should be reported to the coast guard's 24-hour spill response hotline at 1-800-889-8852 or by contacting a Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) centre on VHF channel 16. See http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/eng/CCG/ER_Reporting_Incident.
