Nuytco Research Limited of Vancouver has been awarded the contract to conduct an underwater assessment of the Robson Bight area on the east coast of Vancouver Island, in an operation that will be jointly funded by the Ministry of Environment and the Canadian Coast Guard.

Ministry staff will work with Nuytco personnel to complete the necessary planning and will expedite permits required for work within the ecological reserve required for the underwater operation.

The company will provide the surface vessels from which sonar scans and a submersible will be launched in an effort to locate and identify
targets and conduct damage assessments of the sunken wreckage.

The operation will be begin as soon as possible once the personnel and equipment are on site, weather permitting.

An observer from the Canadian Coast Guard has been invited to be on site during the operation and an invitation is being extended to the Living Oceans Society and First Nations to provide an observer.