Barge grounded in Vancouver's English Bay not removed, details on recovery plan expected in coming weeks
A barge that's been grounded near Vancouver's English Bay since last month wasn't removed as expected on Monday, and the city says a recovery plan may not be released for weeks.
The barge was one of nearly two dozen vessels that were set adrift by a catastrophic storm on Nov. 15, according to the Canadian Coast Guard. The vessel operator previously told CTV News Vancouver that crews would attempt to remove it on Dec. 6 when a king tide was expected.
But Dec. 6 came and went, and the barge is still aground.
"Removing the barge will be a complex undertaking due to its size, its location and the potential effects of water and weather conditions on the removal," the City of Vancouver said in an emailed statement.
"Ensuring public and environmental safety during the removal remains a top priority for all partners involved including the city."
The city said Transport Canada is expecting to receive a recovery plan "in the coming days" and that "more details will be known in the following weeks."
Transport Canada said in a statement that it expects "to receive the plan as soon as the owner's representatives complete their work," adding that it's "in contact with the City of Vancouver, the Canadian Coast Guard and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority on this matter."
The vessel has quickly become a piece of Vancouver lore, inspiring parody social media accounts and attracting onlookers daily. Both TripAdvisor and Google have review pages for the barge, which is receiving mostly five-star ratings from users.
As of Friday night, the barge had an average rating of 4.9 on Google. By Tuesday, that rating had gone down to 4.7.
"This barge really floats my boat! Would recommend to all," one review says.
On TripAdvisor, however, the rating appears to be improving. On Friday, the "Sunset Beach Barge" had a rating of four out of five, but that has since inched up to 4.5.
Attempts were made to remove the barge with a tugboat shortly after the storm, but it wasn't strong enough to do the job.
Transport Canada has previously said there is no threat of pollution from the barge, which is empty and had been used to carry wood chips.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Ian Holliday
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.