Prince Rupert, B.C., is home to the new Eagle Bay OSRV (Oil-Spill Recovery Vessel) launched late 2008 by Burrard Clean Operations (BCO) to prepare for on-coming new industrial developments in Prince Rupert and Kitimat. "We want to be an insurance policy for the environment," said Kevin Gardner, BCO President. "We don't want to be out there because it means something has spilled, so it's one of those pieces of machinery that you hope you never have to use."
The new environmental management vehicle will range anywhere on the coast, "basically from Shearwater all the way to Prince Rupert," a large area of operation, said Gardner, including Haida Gwaii. The Eagle Bay is a 15.54 m (51') aluminum monohull skimmer with a recovery capacity of 32.8 tonnes per hour. It has Hiab Seacrane, two Cana-flex sweep booms, and two LAMOR HK2-2.54 Brush skimmers for drawing oil and flotsam from the seas. She will run 21 knots on the Caterpillar C12 main engine.
Gardner said the vessel made the voyage from Klemtu to Prince Rupert in 6.5 hours, a very respectable speed. "The Eagle Bay has a higher speed, better skimming capabilities most skimmers, and more comforts for the crew so they can be out on the water for longer periods of time. But this if this boat never touches a drop of oil, that is a good thing," said Craig Dougans, Manager of Response and Operational Standards for BCO.
The purpose of the Eagle Bay is "to stay ahead of the curve. It was built because of the increased pace of economic development in the north, in particular Kitimat and Prince Rupert. BCO has plans for more environmental oil-spill response equipment to be deployed in the north." He added, "The sinking of the Queen of the North was the impetus for action. Sometimes it takes a disaster to happen and then people have to find the positives."
The new skimmer was a $1.3 million expense to BCO and will operate in the Pacific Coast with 12 other similar emergency-oriented vessels, including one in Alaska that is a sister ship to the Eagle Bay.
