UPDATE: Dec. 18, 1 p.m. B次元官网网址� The owner of a local marine propulsion company said the boat was found early Tuesday morning around 2 a.m. approximately 20 ft. off Salt Spring Island, upside down. Crews are currently working to turn the vessel right side up and bring it ashore in order to B次元官网网址渕inimize the environmental impact.B次元官网网址�
A man who was rescued from his sinking boat Monday evening is lucky to be alive after what emergency crews are calling a close call.
At approximately 6:30 p.m. a mayday call came into the Coast Guard from the boater saying his 24-foot aluminum vessel had started to take on water.
At the same time, the Coastal Celebration, a BC Ferries vessel, was minutes from docking at Swartz Bay having left Tsawwassen at 5 p.m. and was dispatched to the area just off Moresby Island.
B次元官网网址淭he vessel was sinking,B次元官网网址� said Deborah Marshall, executive director of public affairs for BC Ferries. B次元官网网址淏y the time we got to him, he was basically standing on the tip of the boat.B次元官网网址�
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The captain of the ferry maneuvered the ship to block the wind while a crew of three launched a zodiac rescue boat to reach the lone occupant of the now almost completely submerged boat.
B次元官网网址淚t was like the Titanic with the end of the boat up in the air,B次元官网网址� said Debbie Wiecke, who, travelling with a friend, watched from the window of the ferry.
B次元官网网址淵ou could see that they had lit up the water all around the boat. ItB次元官网网址檚 amazing how bright those lights are,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淣ot a minute later, he would have been in the water.B次元官网网址�
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Wiecke said BC Ferries staff kept passengers calm and secure moving them to one end of the boat, making regular announcements keeping them briefed on the situation.
Because high winds had created rough waters, the crew had trouble bringing the zodiac up so the Coastal Celebration escorted the rescue boat to shore with the cold, wet boater in tow.
Marshall confirmed the ferry docked in Swartz Bay around 7:20 p.m. while the zodiac proceeded to the nearby government dock where emergency personnel met the four men.
B次元官网网址淭hese type of situations, they put our crew at risk,B次元官网网址� Marshall said. B次元官网网址淚t was a blustery night even to be out on a ferry let alone to launch a boat and perform a rescue.B次元官网网址�
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Since Friday, BC Ferries has cancelled a host of sailings on multiple routes due to stormy weather.
Environment Canada had issued weather advisories throughout the weekend with some residents reporting on social media they could feel their homes shaking in the high winds and torrential rains.
Raising a sunken boat, meanwhile, is the ownerB次元官网网址檚 responsibility, said Michelle Imbeau, communications advisor with the Coast Guard.
With a small boat, the immediate concern for environmental impact is generally the leaking of fuel, releasing hydrocarbons.
B次元官网网址淚f a vessel sunk it is [the ownerB次元官网网址檚] responsibility to try to raise the vessel,B次元官网网址� Imbeau said, adding the Coast Guard works with boaters providing options and monitoring action.
On Monday evening the Coast Guard stood down once BC Ferries reached the scene.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 interesting,B次元官网网址� Imbeau said, B次元官网网址渙n the water everyone tends to lend a hand when someone is in trouble.B次元官网网址�
