Question Period Note: Environmental Response – Motor Vessel (M/V) ZIM KINGSTON

Environmental Response – Motor Vessel (M/V) ZIM KINGSTON

The Canadian Coast Guard continues to work closely with its many partners on this large-scale international response to the loss of drifting containers and the container ship itself.

Transport Canada is currently the lead federal agency responsible for the relocation and offloading of the Zim Kingston.

The Canadian Coast Guard, and its partners who made up the Unified Command, responded quickly and efficiently to ensure the safety of the crew, first responders, and the public, while also working to address potential environmental impacts.

We will continue to work with all those involved, including representatives from First Nations, the Province of British Columbia, local municipalities, the United States Coast Guard, to ensure that the ongoing response is carried out safely and with the least possible environmental impacts. 
If Pressed
Monitoring and planning efforts are ongoing and include clean-up operations and monitoring the scope of potential environmental impacts.

Operations have been, and continue to be, hampered by ongoing inclement weather, but work continues as safety permits.

The Canadian Coast Guard remains in contact with Zim Kingston owners to determine future intentions.

• On October 22 - container ship M/V ZIM KINGSTON experienced a cargo shift and loss of containers overboard due to weather. The number of lost containers was initially estimated at 40 containers overboard. Coast Guard Marine Communication and Traffic Services (MCTS) took initial information from the ship. To ensure safety to other mariners, and Navigation Warning (NAVWARN) was broadcasted immediately to advise other vessels transiting the area of the floating hazard (containers lost). The ship was then provided direction to a safe anchorage at Constance Bank, British Columbia, and directed to create a passage plan.
• On October 23 - the M/V ZIM KINGSTON, at anchor on Constance Bank, BC with 21 people on board, reported a fire onboard within their cargo of containers. Coast Guard vessels Cape Calvert and Cape Naden responded. Coast Guard evacuated 16 crew off the ship. Remaining crew stayed to fight the fires.
• On October 23 - communication to local partners, Indigenous communities and stakeholders was done in accordance with Coast Guard’s Area Response Plans. A pre-determined distribution list, which includes Indigenous, Provincial and local governments, was used to communicate the original container loss, and the resulting fire onboard the ship. This communication has been updated regularly since the incident occurred.
• On October 23 - an Incident Command Post was stood up by Coast Guard to manage both fire on the ship as well as the lost containers. Coast Guard initiates regular communication with the ship owner, who provides details on response intentions, contractors hired, and confirms a request for coordinated support.
• On October 24 - two contracted offshore supply vessels with firefighting capability were hired by the ship owner to stabilize fires on the ship by watering vessel.
• On October 24 and 25 –Coast Guard and US Coast Guard attempted to track the containers but a storm made tracking challenging.
• On October 25 - salvage contractors were on scene but unable to board the ship due to weather and continued smoldering containers. The nature of the chemical in the containers that was on fire would have resulted in great fire / explosion with direct application of water. A strategy to allow containers to burn down proved effective.
• On October 26 - salvage contractors boarded the ship and began firefighting operations, working from container to container. This took several days. Air quality monitoring on shore continued to show results that did not elicit concerns.
• On October 27 - the crew returned to the ship and was able to safely access container bays to count containers. It was determined that 109 containers fell overboard versus the original 40 that was first reported.
• On October 27 - Coast Guard helicopter spotted four containers and debris on the beaches around Cape Scott, northern Vancouver Island.
• On October 28 – firefighting efforts continued; the contractor hired by the ship owner to clean up the containers and debris began to mobilize. Coast Guard continued to communicate and coordinate response efforts with ship owner and contractors.
• On October 29 – shore clean-up began. Coast Guard and Transport Canada National Arial Surveillance Plane overflights continued to look for more containers. The vessel owner’s Classification Society completed the vessel inspection required to allow for the ship to move once a berth was established.
• On October 30 – The marine salvage contractor, hired by the ship owner, transitioned from firefighting to container stabilization operations.
• On November 1 – Transport Canada inspectors boarded the M/V ZIM KINGSTON. The Emergency Zone around Constance Bank anchorage was modified from 1 nautical miles to 0.5 nautical miles in order decrease impact on shipping activities.
• On November 3 – Transportation Safety Board inspectors boarded the ship. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), as well as local and municipal responders, reviewed air quality reports ashore, and reported their findings with no concerns. Further plume modelling did not indicated any chance of particulate matter reaching the shore, therefore, shore based air monitoring ceased.
• On November 4 – beach cleanup continued with identification of further areas of coastline impacted by debris.
• Between November 5 and 9, plans were being developed and finalized by the vessel owner to prepare to move the M/V ZIM KINGSTON to a nearby Port (as yet undetermined) to unload its cargo and take on repairs. Discussions remain ongoing between Coast Guard, Transport Canada and the vessel owner on the timing and location of the M/V ZIM KINGSTON’s port of call.
• Indigenous leaders are monitoring their territories and reporting on any potential debris or containers that come ashore from the M/V ZIM KINGSTON. They are actively patrolling beaches and participating in coordination calls with the Coast Guard to share information in a coordinated response.
• Multiple First Nations are also contributing local knowledge by identifying their sensitive resources at risk. This helps the response efforts by enabling responders to prioritize their efforts to mitigate impacts to the environment.
• Under the Canadian Shipping Act, the owner is responsible for response and cleanup of the cargo spill, and under the Marine Liability Act and the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act the owner of the vessel is liable for costs, losses and damage resulting from the incident.
Container and Debris locations
• Palmerston Beach – one container and debris
• Shuttleworth and North Coast Shoreline - one container and debris
• Sea Otter Cove - San Josef Bay – one container and debris
• Raft Cove – one container and debris
• Guise Bay – debris

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