VANCOUVER - A non-profit society is asking the Federal Court to stop the planned sinking of a former Canadian Navy vessel in a small, protected marine park in Howe Sound off the coast of B.C.
The Save Halkett Bay Marine Park Society filed court documents this week seeking an injunction to stop the plan to sink the 1960s former helicopter-carrying destroyer.
A spokesman for the group says it had a paint sample from the ship tested by an independent laboratory, which found toxic chemicals that should not be disposed of in the ocean.
The Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia announced Monday that it would sink the HMCS Annapolis on Jan. 17, after being granted a permit to do so by Environment Canada in October.
The ship is set to be towed to Halkett Bay off Gambier Island, just a short boat ride from Vancouver, and sunk in order to be used as an artificial reef and site for divers.
The Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia and Environment Canada did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
