SEPT 11: PRESS RELEASE: Guudaa Kunt’as Gwaay.yaay (Lina Island) Grounding
For Immediate Release
September 11, 2018 14:00 PST
UPDATE: Guudaa Kunt'as Gwaay.yaay Lina Island Grounding
A HaiCo Westcoast Resorts fishing lodge broke lose Saturday night from its mooring in Alliford Bay around 9:00 pm and beached at Guudaa Kunt'as Gwaay.yaay Lina Island, near Daajing Giids the Village of Queen Charlotte, Xaayda Gwaay Haida Gwaii.
A Unified Command has been established to oversee the incident with representatives of HaiCo, Council of the Haida Nation, Village of Queen Charlotte, Ministry of Environment and the Canadian Coast Guard operating out of the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources and Rural Development in Daajing Giids the Village of Queen Charlotte.
The barge is rested at Guudaa Kunt'as Gwaay.yaay, Lina Island, and an Exclusion Zone has been established. A small amount of pollution has been observed and steps have been taken to contain and recover where possible. Continual air quality monitoring will occur around the incident site to ensure safety of all response personnel.
Today, the operations team focused on inspecting the underbody for damage while conducting air monitoring. During the inspection, where possible, manhole patch covers will be opened to increase natural ventilation. Time and air quality permitting, the team will secure the barge to the beach.
Additional field staff were deployed to take samples in high priority areas identified by the Environmental Unit.
All media inquiries can be directed to HaiCo's Communication and Certification Manager
Sonia.Rice@haico.ca.
Unified Command will have updates and the details will be posted on:
www.haico.ca
https://www.facebook.com/HaidaEnterpriseCorporation/
http://www.haidanation.ca/?page_id=3954
https://www.facebook.com/Council-of-the-Haida-Nation-307576689312237/
Twitter @CHN_HaidaNation
BC Ministry of Environment -
gov.bc.ca/environmental-spill-response,
Twitter: @spillsinfobc
https://www.facebook.com/Village-of-Queen-Charlotte-132877200165045/