Category Archives: Transportation

Transportation

Ottawa stalls while cruise ships dump toxic wastewater along West Coast

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Cruise vessels are leaving billions of litres of wastewater in their wake despite longtime promises of action by the federal government.

Most water pollution discharged by ships showcasing the beauty of the coast is pumped out by scrubbers — an exhaust-cleaning system that uses seawater to “wash” sulphur dioxide, toxic metals and carcinogens from ship fumes, only to flush them into the ocean. 

The devices are widely used by the cruise industry and act as a loophole for shipping companies to continue burning cheaper, dirty, heavy fuel oils while still complying with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2020 sulfur emissions standards, said Anna Barford, oceans campaigner for Stand.earth Canada.

The federal government, which promised to examine the issue of scrubbers in marine conservation areas in early 2023, held a general two-month public consultation on the exhaust systems early this year. The Transport Canada public input process didn’t include details about what, if any, scrubber restrictions are being considered, nor any timelines for action. 

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Transportation

BC Ferries Is Still Facing Labour Unrest. Here’s the Latest

By Isaac Phan Nay, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The union that represents BC Ferries workers is headed into difficult contract talks this summer — but hopes to avoid any job action that could impact ferry operations.

An arbitration panel’s decision on wages earlier this spring will set the tone for the negotiations, said union leader Eric McNeely.

As part of the existing collective agreement, the panel decided May 30 that BC Ferries workers will earn a 1.65 per cent raise.

McNeely said he’s disappointed with the decision to put the workers’ raise behind inflation.

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History, Transportation

Twilight of the Union Steamships

Originally Published on September 6, 2022

The Union Steamship Company served communities along the West Coast up until they were supplanted by airplanes and small motor boats in 1956. Few would have guessed that as little as a generation earlier, when they were still the main way of transporting people and supplies. In the conclusion of her segment about the Union Steamship company, Lynne Jordan talks about the company’s twilight years.  

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History, Transportation

The Union Steamships arrive in Whaletown

Originally Published September 5, 2022

When the Union Steamship company started operations, in 1889, there was a single ship servicing Burrard Inlet. Three years later they expanded their market to include the canneries, logging camps and small communities springing up along the coast. The first reference to a ship stopping in Whaletown is found in an 1899 edition of the VANCOUVER PROVINCE. 

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Transportation

Vessels of Concern: Signs of the Times

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Originally Published February 2, 2020

The grounding of “March Wind” in January 2020 prompted Roy Hales to write a story about boats adrift. I’d like to dig (or dive?) a little deeper under that story and consider some of the factors that have led to the increasing number of derelict and dilapidated boats on the BC Coast.

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