Finally, there is a timeline for the removal of a massive barge that spilled onto Vancouver’s Sunset Beach during a storm last November.
The city of Vancouver says that Vancouver Pile Driving Ltd. (VanPile), the company that agreed to dismantle and remove the empty boat, will begin operations in the Gulf of England this week.
The barge ran aground on November 15 due to strong winds, stormy seas and tides. After attempts to move the barge failed, it became an integral part of the site.
“The removal of the barge has been carefully planned after consultation with industry experts, partners and first-nation groups,” the city said in a statement.
“Hazardous material, archaeological and structural assessments have been carried out to ensure that the sensitive marine environment is protected.”
In the coming days, VanPile will put up barriers and fences around the area. The next stage includes additional site preparation and installation of temporary piles to secure the barge.
The Vancouver Park board installed a sign near the barge stranded near Sunset Beach during the storms on November 15, renaming it Barge Chilling Beach – a cheeky reference to Dude Chilling Park. (Ben Nelms / CBC)
The walls and hulls of the boat will then be removed in parts. Everything will be loaded on support barges and sent to a stay area where it will be treated and recycled.
Last December, the Vancouver Park Council gave the city a “holiday gift” by temporarily placing a sign renaming the Barge Chilling Beach area.
The city says the work should have a “minimal impact” on park activities, although residents and visitors can expect periods of noise Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Once deconstruction begins, the rest of the removal process is expected to take 12 to 15 weeks.
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