PRESS RELEASE: Westcoast Resorts Hippa Island Barge

For Immediate Release

September 10, 2018

Westcoast Resorts Hippa Island barge Press Release

On Saturday night around 9:00pm, HaiCo's Westcoast Resorts' Hippa barge anchored at Alliford Bay came loose from its anchor buoy. There was a member of the crew on board but it drifted to an area west of Daajing Giids Village of Queen Charlotte over the next several hours.

At this time we are not able to determine the reason the barge came free from its anchorage. The barge is now beached and has some fractures in the hull and it appears that a gas fuel line may have ruptured.

The rupture and subsequent vapours resulted in a danger to staff and agencies onsite.

As a precaution, no one is on the barge and further assessments have been halted. The Exclusion Zone set by Coast Guard is being maintained and a specialized contractor certified in handling hazardous materials in confined spaces is required and expected onsite today.

  • There is no current danger of the barge sinking as the barge is beached and the hull is compartmentalized

  • No diesel has leaked and there is no impact to the marine environment at this time although there are concerns with changing tides.

  • Local resources are monitoring the situation and will handle any possible containment issues.

A team comprised of Coast Guard, DFO, Provincial Agencies, Council of the Haida Nation, Village of Queen Charlotte, WCR, and the hazardous materials contractor will be on site this morning.

HaiCo will provide updates as the situation evolves.

For further information please contact HaiCo's CEO Bob Brash at bbrash@haico.ca.

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