A timeline has emerged for the removal of a massive barge that washed up on Sunset Beach in Vancouver during a storm last November, subsequently becoming something of a tourist attraction. Vancouver Pile Driving Ltd, the company contracted by the City of Vancouver to take apart and remove the empty boat, should by now have started work in English Bay.
The barge ran aground on November 15th 2021 as a result of strong winds, rough seas and a high tide. After attempts to refloat the barge failed, it became a fixture at the site. “The barge removal has been carefully planned in consultation with industry experts, partners and First Nation groups,” the city announced, adding that “hazardous material,
archaeological and structural assessments have been completed to ensure the sensitive
marine environment is protected.”
VanPile has put up safety barriers and fences around the area. The next stage will involve additional site preparation and the installation of temporary piles to secure the barge.
The boat’s walls and hulls will then be removed in sections. Everything will be loaded onto support barges and shipped away to a staging area, where it will be processed and recycled.
