Questions raised after 3 Sea Island hovercraft left out of service

Three hovercraft stationed in Richmond are currently either in maintenance or out of service, raising questions about possible impact on search and rescue operations in Vancouver Harbour.

An internal document obtained by Global News shows CCGS Siyay and CCGS Moytel are both in unscheduled maintenance until further notice.

Another vessel, CCGS Penac, is completely out of service.

Dan Bate with Canadian Coast Guard confirmed to Global News:

The hovercraft CCGS Moytel is out of service for repairs following an incident with a buoy near the First Narrows. The backup craft Hovercraft CCGS Siyay, which had been designated as the primary hovercraft, has also been taken out of service for unscheduled repairs with an estimated return to service in 2 days.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: The hovercraft CCGS Moytel is out of service for repairs following an incident with a buoy near the First Narrows. The backup craft Hovercraft CCGS Siyay, which had been designated as the primary hovercraft, has also been taken out of service for unscheduled repairs with an estimated return to service in 2 days.

Bate says Canadian Coast Guard is working on returning the hovercraft back to service as quickly as possible.

In the meantime, the Canadian Coast Guard has positioned a fast rescue craft and crew at HMCS Discovery to provide search and rescue coverage in Vancouver Harbour on a 24/7 basis.

A fast rescue craft and crew is also on standby at the Sea Island Base.

Bate says as with any large fleet of vessels, out-of-service periods occur from time to time.

The Coast Guard made immediate adjustments and is confident that there will be no negative impact on its ability to respond quickly and effectively to distress incidents on the water.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: The Coast Guard made immediate adjustments and is confident that there will be no negative impact on its ability to respond quickly and effectively to distress incidents on the water.

But Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson says it is a huge concern with so many people still out on the water.

“If there was a marine emergency right now, lives would be at risk,” he says.

Robertson says the city was assured that there would be proper coverage for Vancouver harbour when the Kitsilano coast guard station was closed, and it wants to see that decision reversed.

“We have to make noise about it to make sure the federal government hears our concerns,” says Robertson.

The federal government shut down the Kitsilano coast guard base as part of its cost-cutting plans in spring of last year. The move was slammed by the B.C. government and the city of Vancouver, but Ottawa maintained public safety would not be jeopardized.

With the closure of the station, the calls were handled primarily by the Coast Guard base at Sea Island, in Richmond.