Video footage of the sunken equipment in Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve shows that the vehicles are mostly upright, relatively undamaged and do not appear to be leaking hydrocarbons.

The Ministry of Environment is contracting with technical experts to provide additional analysis of the equipment in Robson Bight. This will help the Ministry of Environment and its partner, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), to assess the risks posed by the equipment and identify options for its mitigation.

These analyses will include a look by Environment Canada at the possible effects if any of the remaining petroleum products are released, and reviews by other experts to further assess the condition and stability of the tanker sitting on the seabed.

The partners will then review the experts' findings before determining next steps. It is believed that the current condition of the equipment on the seafloor will allow the time necessary to undertake a complete analysis of the options available.

The ministry and the CCG partnered in obtaining video footage to determine the condition of the wreckage after a barge carrying vehicles and forestry equipment foundered, dumping 11 pieces of equipment inside the boundary of the protected area on Aug. 20, 2007.

The video footage to be used in the analysis was obtained using a submersible that surveyed the wreckage in detail over a number of days.

The Ministry of Environment and CCG are providing an edited version of the tape online that provides footage of the wreckage located over 1,100 feet below the surface.

First Nations and the Living Oceans Society observed the underwater assessment in the Bight, both will receive a report of the initial findings and a copy of the entire footage. The edited version of the footage can be viewed or downloaded at
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/pac/videos/bpenner/2008/robson_bight/

Ministry of Environment