MV Star Ikebana at Squamish Dock
For the second time in less than 4 months, a ship has been holed by collision with Squamish Dock. On 4 Aug 2006, the Westwood Anette spilled large amounts of bunker fuel into the ecologically sensitive Howe Sound estuary after one of its fuel tanks was punctured when it was blown onto pilings by high winds.
About 2 days ago the Star Ikebana, while docking, had a fatal attraction to the sharp concrete corner of Berth #2 in Squamish, the result of which was a hole about 8'X35' in the starboard bow. I just spent a shift unloading pulp from Vancouver Island to lighten the vessel enough to make it safe to tow her to dry dock. The above-waterline tear is confined to the bow section, which appears to be anchor chain and gear locker or just void space, but I am told there is also some damage to one of the benches of Hatch #1. At least this time there was no bunker oil spill as with the Westwood Anette at the same dock in August. Rumor is that the Pilot sped away from the scene as soon as he got his feet on land and headed straight for the nearest bar.
Squamish just received about 6 inches of rain in less than 2 days. A ship docking at Berth #2 has to follow a careful path along a dredged channel: a bit too much to port and she goes aground on the mud, and a bit too much to starboard will cause her to bash into the corner of the dock. This stretch of water is also blessed with powerful, gusty winds that make it a world-class windsurfing area. I have often watched kiteboarders get picked off the water and fly through the air 100 yards before they set down again. First time I saw that I thought the guy was in trouble, but apparently that is what makes it so much fun!
It seems to me that nobody gave any thought to the possibility that a ship might hit the corner of the dock. Some big old industrial tires or other sort of fender would have made the difference between a huge hole and just a dent in the bow plates.
Similar precautions might have prevented the oil spill from the Westwood Anette. Perhaps more powerful tugs and/or more of them are part of the solution. Something has got to change.
About 2 days ago the Star Ikebana, while docking, had a fatal attraction to the sharp concrete corner of Berth #2 in Squamish, the result of which was a hole about 8'X35' in the starboard bow. I just spent a shift unloading pulp from Vancouver Island to lighten the vessel enough to make it safe to tow her to dry dock. The above-waterline tear is confined to the bow section, which appears to be anchor chain and gear locker or just void space, but I am told there is also some damage to one of the benches of Hatch #1. At least this time there was no bunker oil spill as with the Westwood Anette at the same dock in August. Rumor is that the Pilot sped away from the scene as soon as he got his feet on land and headed straight for the nearest bar.
Squamish just received about 6 inches of rain in less than 2 days. A ship docking at Berth #2 has to follow a careful path along a dredged channel: a bit too much to port and she goes aground on the mud, and a bit too much to starboard will cause her to bash into the corner of the dock. This stretch of water is also blessed with powerful, gusty winds that make it a world-class windsurfing area. I have often watched kiteboarders get picked off the water and fly through the air 100 yards before they set down again. First time I saw that I thought the guy was in trouble, but apparently that is what makes it so much fun!
It seems to me that nobody gave any thought to the possibility that a ship might hit the corner of the dock. Some big old industrial tires or other sort of fender would have made the difference between a huge hole and just a dent in the bow plates.
Similar precautions might have prevented the oil spill from the Westwood Anette. Perhaps more powerful tugs and/or more of them are part of the solution. Something has got to change.
posted by Ken Erickson at 8:30 PM
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