Coast Guard claims Dominion One not sinking

February 21, 2012

Despite popular opinion in Cowichan Bay that the Dominion One continues to increase its list, the Coast Guard said the ship is not sinking.

Spokesperson Dan Bate said as recently as the week of Feb. 6-10, Coast Guard officials went to the old shipping vessel and did a site inspection, then compared old and new photos.

“As of the very latest, the vessel is not in danger of sinking.”

With the Dominion One dead in the water for well over four years, the Coast Guard’s opinion is something Cowichan Bay Area Director Lori Iannidinardo said doesn’t hold water.

“They claim they don’t have the resources… and they can only come and help us if the vessel sinks, but I think that’s ridiculous that they shouldn’t be proactive in taking away this danger from our community.”

The ruckus about the Dominion One hopefully won't linger for as many years as the ship's been sitting in the bay. Bate would not give details, but claimed plans are in the works to have the ship taken apart.

“We sent formal notice to the owner to take action to prevent pollution, since receiving that notice, the owner has indicated his intention to remove and break up the vessel.”

Bate would not provide the name of a company contracted to do the job, but a local steel recycler in the Cowichan Valley told SunFM News that they are ‘looking’ at the project.

Photo: Courtesy Daniel Helmer