Port Monitoring Sun Sea Demolition Closely
September 20, 2019
Port Monitoring Sun Sea Demolition Closely
MV Sun Sea prepares for demolition
MV Sun Sea docks for last time
Sep 20, 2019
The safe demolition of the MV Sun Sea is being conducted by Victoria’s Canadian Maritime Engineering Ltd. (CME) at Nanaimo Shipyard and is being monitored closely by Port of Nanaimo management and staff.
The MV Sun Sea arrived at Nanaimo Shipyard at the end of August after Victoria-based CME was awarded a $4.1 million contract from Canada Border Services to dismantle and dispose of the vessel, and are utilizing Nanaimo Shipyard facilities. The vessel arrived off the coast of B.C. in 2010 carrying 492 asylum-seekers from Sri Lanka via Thailand, and has been idle ever since.
Port of Nanaimo crews toured the vessel shortly after its arrival and have continued to monitor activities regarding the ship’s dismantling.
“The vessel arrived safely at Nanaimo Shipyard under the watchful eye of the NPA staff in the Operations Centre, who utilized the surveillance of its state of the art Marine Domain Awareness system,” says Capt. Singh, Port of Nanaimo’s Harbour Master. Capt. Singh adds that the Port Harbour Master’s office will be providing advice during the ship’s stay at the Nanaimo Shipyard – expected to be three months – regarding control of the ship-shore interface, removal or segregation of dangerous goods and hazardous materials, measures taken by yard workers to prevent safety or environmental irregularities, and the accessibility to Nanaimo Shipyard property by unauthorized persons.
The City of Nanaimo’s Fire & Rescue department has also been on site to inspect the operation, and made recommendations that were immediately implemented by CME. Extra precautions are being taken to avoid any possible environmental intrusion, as any asbestos and lead-based paint are being safely removed. All other parts of the vessel will be recycled, and the vessel itself will be welded to a cradle before being trucked out for dismantling into scrap metal. A precautionary boom has been placed around the vessel.
Niall McEvoy, the Port’s Manager of Health, Safety & Environment, says the work undertaken by CME will be conducted in full compliance with the Ministry of Environment, Canada Labour Code and WorkSafeBC regulations. CME responded immediately to the Port’s request for its Fire Safety Plan, Security Plan and Environmental Review. “18,000 litres of ballast water will be pumped out using a vacuum truck floated alongside the vessel via barge, and it is being treated and disposed of as oily water as a precaution,” he says.
McEvoy adds that work currently involves demolition of material on the vessel’s upper decks, and that CME has as many as 29 workers on site doing the work, which is only being conducted during regular daylight hours.
Port of Nanaimo
PO Box 131
Nanaimo, BC V9R 5K4
Tel: (250) 753-4146
Fax: (250) 753-4899