Queen-Of-Burnaby

The 'Queen of Burnaby', decommissioned since 2017 and languishing in Union Bay since November 2021, was towed back to B.C. Ferries facilities in Richmond on May 12, 2022. With the refit season coming to a close, more space is available at the Richmond facility as the corporation actively evaluates options for recycling the ship that comply and follow all safety and environmental procedures, regulations and legislation. B.C. Ferries has had a temporary mooring arrangement in Union Bay since the fall. The ferry made headlines in 2018, when it was sold for more than $650,000. However, the deal fell through. It has remained in B.C. Ferries’ hands since. At the time of the auction, B.C. Ferries said a buyer had to conduct an “environmentally acceptable breaking of the ship” for scrap or keep it in “a static application.” The auction notes on the Queen of Burnaby said the vessel was no longer fit for sailing, was leaking hydraulic oil and contained hazardous materials — including asbestos. Union Bay residents had voiced concerns about the possibility that the ferry would be taken apart at an old log-sorting area, now the site of a ship-breaking business. On April 14, the Comox Valley Regional District filed a notice of civil claim with the Supreme Court of British Columbia to stop ship-breaking operations at 5084 Island Highway. The regional district said it had received complaints about the operations of Deep Water Recovery. The CVRD board approved the legal action to stop ship-breaking on the property. The land use is considered to be contrary to industrial marine zoning and the regional district claims ship-breaking is not an allowable use. The court process is expected to take several months. Report with photo: https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/rusting-ferry-towed-from-union-bay-to-richmond-5363329

The arrival of the decommissioned 'Queen of Burnaby' at a mooring off Union Bay on Vancouver Island has raised environmental concerns among concerned residents. The ship, which used to sail on B.C. Ferries’ Comox-Powell River route, has been moored next to a former log-sorting operation after leaving Nanaimo on Oct 14, 2021, where it appeared that the company Deep Water Recovery was looking to start deconstruction of old vessels. The ferry has been for sale for recycling since it was retired from the fleet in 2017, and the B.C. Ferries company was currently evaluating proposals to recycle the ship with companies that follow all safety and environmental recycling procedures and legislation. In the meantime, the vessel was moved by tug from the B.C. Ferries’ Fleet Maintenance Unit in Richmond to the temporary moorage in Union Bay to make way for other vessels needing service. Arrangements have been made with a company for periodic inspections of the ferry. Deep Water Recovery has a very stringent” environmental plan that includes removal of all hydrocarbons before vessels arrive.

Bidding for the "Queen of Burnaby" closed in the afternoon of Jan 4, and the final price for the ship totalled $653,356.20 after taxes and fees. A total of 281 bids were entered on the auction website govdeals.ca. The ferry was currently mothballed in Richmond. According to the auction page, the "Queen of Burnaby" leaks hydraulic oil and is full of hazardous materials — including asbestos — so it's no longer fit for sailing. The ship was previously on it in Feb. 2017, but drew only a single bid for $425,000 plus taxes and fees. The highest bidder will be evaluated by the ferry corporation.