‘Sadder with age’
MV Sun Sea rots amid red-tape woes
A derelict cargo ship that was at the centre of a massive human smuggling investigation — and that the f ederal government has spent years trying to get rid of — is now attracting unwanted four-legged critters.
Rusting and peeling, the MV Sun Sea, which brought nearly 500 Sri Lankan Tamil migrants to the West Coast in 2010, has been languishing at a federal dock at the Annacis Island industrial park in Delta, B.C., since the summer of 2012 as government bureaucrats try to find a way to dispose of it.
The National Post recently learned that raccoons have been spotted on and around the ship by nearby residents and employees who work at an adjacent federal Department of Fish- eries and Oceans office.
“Our staff at the DFO Annacis have confirmed that a small group of raccoons is sometimes spotted near the vessel. Can’t say for sure if they ‘inhabit’ the vessel,” department spokesman Dan Bate said in an email.
Asked for more details, Bate replied: “The site manager relayed the following info: ‘ There used to be a family of raccoons on the boat. Some of our staff saw them walk up the ramp.’ ”
On top of the unwanted visitors, there also appears to be some concern about the ship’s worsening condition.
Internal emails obtained through an access-to-information request show a June 2016 inspection report found that while there were no imminent flooding hazards, “as conditions continue to deteriorate aboard, it is recommended disposal be undertaken as soon as possible.”
Jonathan Cote, mayor of New Westminster, whose boundaries encompass the Port Royal waterfront residential development directly across the channel from the Sun Sea, said he worries about potential “unintended consequences” of leaving a vacant vessel in the river.
“I think there does need to be some responsibility of the federal government to not have derelict boats staying for too long a period of time. There is an esthetic issue, but there’s also other issues with having boats in deteriorating conditions along the waterfront,” he said.
“If the boat doesn’t have any reasonable use to be repurposed, there really is no advantage in terms of … having it remain in the water.”
In an email, a spokeswoman for the Canada Border Services Agency — which is the legal custodian of the ship — said “our priority is to dispose of the vessel in a safe, compliant and efficient manner,” but such a process takes time.
“There are specific requirements for disposing a vessel of this nature, which contributes to the complexity of this process. As a result, we do not have a completion date at this time,” Stefanie Wudel said.
An undated CBSA briefing note obtained by the National Post out- lining the agency’s communications plan states that “media will likely be critical of the cost for disposing the vessel.” To date, the government has spent close to $ 1 million ($ 970,509) just to store and maintain the vessel.
The MV Sun Sea generated national headlines in August 2010 when it arrived off the B.C. coast with 492 Tamil men, women and children seeking refuge in Canada. The case sparked new legislation aimed at curbing so- called “mass arrivals” of asylum seekers.
After no owner came forward, CBSA took legal responsibility for the ship in 2012 and had it towed to Annacis Island, southeast of Vancouver. At first, the govern- ment tried to sell the ship but couldn’t find a buyer, so it decided to proceed with dismantling and disposal of the vessel.
A company was brought in 2015 to clean up the ship and ensure its stability. The government said at the time there were no reports of spillage of oil or any other pollutants.
But the internal emails obtained by the Post state that “there was a leak in the vessel in the 2014-2015 fiscal year, however it has since been repaired.” The na- ture or extent of the leak is not clear. Wudel would only say this week there had been a puncture in the hull, which has been fixed.
In June 2016, an inspection confirmed the ship was safe to tow through B. C. waters. That September a consultant verified that CBSA’s plans for dismantling the ship complied with regulations.
In February 2017, Public Services and Procurement Canada officials said they were working with CBSA “to find the best option to dispose of the vessel.” PSPC officials did not respond to a request for comment on the status of the tendering process.
Nearby residents say they’re miffed as to why it’s taking so long to get rid of the ship.
“( The ship is) looking sadder with age,” said George Holm. He said he has a neighbour who’s seen raccoons aboard the ship and who “would not be surprised if she sinks one day.”
Moira Bell said people ask her all the time what’s happening with the ship. “The wheels of government move slowly,” she said.
Bell, who said she saw a raccoon run across the ship a couple months ago, said “there’s no question it’s an eyesore. I’m looking at it now. It’s so rusted out.”
Dan McDonald, owner of pest removal company Summit Wildlife Solutions, said it does not surprise him that raccoons would be attracted to the rusting ship. There could be food sources, such as rats and mice, onboard. Plus, the ship likely offers nice shade in the summer.
“Raccoons are territorial so if one comes along and discovers it can get aboard … and get away with it, it’ ll continually go back and check on things,” he said.
For some residents, like Jordan Fitch, that only adds to the intrigue of the ship, which he says blends nicely with the industrial landscape.
“We’ve taken many photos of it,” he said while on a walk with his dog. “Personally, I think it adds to the character of the neighbourhood.”