November 10, 2020 — Construction is now underway on Western Canada Marine Response Corporation’s (WCMRC) much anticipated Nanaimo Spill Response Base.

Located just north of the Nanaimo Port Authority office on Port Drive in Nanaimo, it will include a new building that will
serve as an office/warehouse and new docks to moor 15 vessels. The base is expected to employ approximately 35 people.

The Nanaimo response base will serve as the hub for spill response operations on the island, providing initial rapid response for Eastern Vancouver Island and having the capacity to deliver equipment for a 2,500 tonne spill within 6 hours of activation.

It is part of a larger expansion of WCMRC operations, which will include a number of new bases, most of which will be on Vancouver Island. The bases are designed to meet enhanced spill response requirements associated with the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, doubling WCMRC’s capacity and cutting response times in half in South Coastal waters.

Preliminary work began in late September, and construction, which is projected to take approximately one year, will include land-based and marine components.

“We do not expect neighbouring residences and businesses to be impacted by this work,” notes WCMRC Communications Manager Michael Lowry. “We have taken a number of measures to mitigate noise and dust, and will ensure air quality is maintained by turning off vehicles and equipment when not in use.”

For further information, email: comments@wcmrc.com