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Coast Guard rescued four fishermen

The Canadian Coast Guard was notified on Feb 19, 2025, at around 3:15 a.m. that the 18-m- aluminium fishing vessel 'Western Gambler' had grounded near Napier Point, about three kilometers south of Bella Bella, BC. The vessel had been taking on water prior to the sinking and was attempting to transit to the small port of Shearwater, southeast of Bella Bella, for an emergency haul out when it ran aground. The Canadian Coast Guard’s lifeboat of the Bella Bella station was tasked to assist. The CCGS 'Cape Farewell' and the Fast Rescue Craft arrived on-scene and rescued the four fishermen onboard. No injuries were reported. The 'Western Gambler' then capsized and appeared to be leaking, as there was some initial sheening and other debris on water. The local Heiltsuk Marine Emergency Response Team responded the same morning and deployed a containment boom around the vessel and a deflection boom along the shorelines to protect the McLoughlin Bay hatchery. A Unified Command has been established to oversee the incident and ensure an appropriate response. The owner of the fishing vessel was actively involved in the response. The 'Western Gambler' was submerged near the coastline with the foreship still sticking out of the water, and partially encircled by a yellow spill containment boom. The spill response equipment was deployed by the Heiltsuk Marine Emergency Response Team, which is operated by the local First Nation, to protect the shoreline and the nearby McLoughlin Bay fish hatchery. The 'Western Gambler' was carrying more than 7,500 litres of diesel and 1,100 litres of hydraulic oil when it sank. Additional containment booms were placed around the fish pens at the McLoughlin Bay hatchery as a preventative protective measure. Mariners who were not part of the response efforts are asked to refrain from transiting the area. The Heiltsuk Nation issued an urgent notice to boaters just before 1 p.m. The vessel is co-owned by Randolph Enterprises Ltd. and Jim Pattison Enterprises Ltd., with the latter serving as the authorized representative for the craft. Multiple layers of boom have been deployed around the vessel, as well as deflection boom to protect the shoreline and the McLoughlin Bay hatchery. The boom is regularly being repaired and maintained by the local Heiltsuk Marine Emergency Response Team (MERT) and Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC). Preliminary assessments of the casualty vessel were conducted by a dive team on Feb 24. A crane and barge have been contracted by the owner and arrived on-site on Feb 25 with salvage work due to start on Feb 26. The MERT, Canadian Coast Guard and WCMRC will all be on the water during the salvage operation, in the event of a sudden release of pollution. An Emergency Zone of 0.5 miles has been established around the incident site in Lama Passage. A Navigational Warning is still in effect requesting mariners to minimize wake in the area. Report with photo: https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/fishermen-rescued-after-boat-sinks-spills-fuel-on-bc-coast/