WESTVIEW CHINOOK

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Capsized fishing vessel towed away

The salvage operation of the 'Western Gambler' has been completed at Napier Point in the Lama Passage south of Bella Bella, British Columbia. Crews were successful in lifting and securing the vessel aboard a barge, which has been transferred to Bella Bella by the 'Westview Chinook' on Febn 28, 2025. Plans were underway to transfer the vessel to a salvage facility in the Lower Mainland. Dive operations focused on removing debris from the marine environment. Together, with Heiltsuk Tribal Council Marine Emergency Response Team Mariners and the Province of British Columbia, a response team of the Canadian Coast Guard conducted a shoreline cleanup assessment. On Feb 27 the salvage operation had started, with crews successfully righting the wreck, which has been towed to sheltered waters in Shearwater. On Feb 20 the fishing vessel had capsized three kilometers south of Bella Bella. The Bella Bella station crew rescued the four fishermen onboard, no injuries were reported. The Heiltsuk Tribal Council Marine Emergency Response Team deployed containment boom around the vessel and were protecting shorelines and the McLoughlin Bay hatchery from potential impacts. Reports with photos: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/spills-environmental-emergencies/spill-incidents/vessel-incident-napier-point https://www.vancouverislandfreedaily.com/news/large-fishing-boat-overturns-and-leaks-on-bc-north-coast-fishermen-rescued-7832335