A group of experts is uniting to push for the establishment of a ship recycling facility in Port Alberni, B.C., as around 900 vessels in the region are reaching the end of their operational lives with limited proper disposal options on the West Coast. Led by MP Gord Johns and MLA Josie Osborne, the team includes First Nations chiefs, local officials, industry representatives, and environmental organizations.
Johns highlighted the necessity of a ship recycling facility in Port Alberni to eliminate the current practice of towing vessels like the Queen of Burnaby from B.C. Ferries to the East Coast for recycling. He pointed out that the process incurs substantial costs, estimating $10 million for recycling the ferry, with half of that amount spent on towing it through the Panama Canal to Halifax, N.S.
The initiative aims to address the environmental risks posed by the aging vessels, which include fuel leaks and exposure to toxic paint. Port Alberni, located on Vancouver Island, is being considered as an ideal location for the recycling facility due to its deep-sea port and affordability.
The move to establish a ship recycling hub in Port Alberni comes as a response to the pressing need to address the disposal of aging ships, including ferries, fishing vessels, Coast Guard ships, and tugs, many of which exceed 500 tons in weight.