A Mercury Launch & Tug Ltd. tugboat and barge transporting a fuel tanker truck and excavator ran aground at the head of Mamquam Blind Channel today (May 11), proving once again that the Blind Channel is in dire need of dredging, according to the Squamish Harbour Authority.
"Boats run aground more than people think," said Bill McEnery, manager of the Squamish Harbour Authority. "The channel hasn't been dredged and the sediment will eventually choke us out of that area."
No spills or contamination was reported, but Mercury Launch & Tug Ltd. crews were inconvenienced while forced to wait until the tide changed before resuming their journey. Some boats having the same experience have had to wait an agonizing eight hours, said McEnery.
Rob Errington of Mercury Launch & Tug Ltd. said the government needs to do something before it is too late. His company rarely ventures into the Mamquam Blind Channel, and more water would make everyone's life easier, he said.
"I think it's a matter of getting the government to properly maintain places like this so this doesn't happen again," said Errington. "The government seems to have different priorities and the money doesn't go where it would have years ago."
According to McEnery, 20 years of silt build-up has left the Mamquam Blind Channel impassable outside of high tide by larger vessels. Compounding the problem, current marine charts don't show how shallow it really is.
"That is why they run aground because many boats don't realize how shallow it is in low tide and that you need to wait," McEnery said. "It is pretty dangerous if your boat isn't up to snuff because you can wreck your boat and drown yourself."
McEnery said the problem will continue to proliferate until the channel is made deeper through dredging.
"We have pursued every angle known to man to get the channel dredged and this is a typical example of what is happening. I was hoping that John Weston [West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MP] fellow would come up with a plan to do something, but it looks as though he is empty handed," McEnery said.
A federal government promise to pour $4 billion into local and regional for infrastructure projects like the Mamquam Blind Channel dredging project gave local lobbyists hope but they were quickly dashed.
On April 28, The Chief reported that the Western Canada Economic Diversification (WCED) organization denied a $1 million grant that would make long-awaited dredging possible.
But WCED has kept the application with the promise that a new program may be announced in the future that could fund the project. Community Development director Mick Gottardi told the Chief last week that the district would have to contribute at least $100,000 if the application for the $1 million project is approved.
New funding programs or not, McEnery said the project is time sensitive with a short window for construction. He said the project would have to be completed by Sept. to make a difference this year.
