Boat owners may have to pay cleanup costs following Reed Point Marina fire

Five boats were engulfed in flames before sinking into the waters at Reed Point Marina on Dec. 27, resulting in a lengthy cleanup operation, according to the Canadian Coast Guard.

Port Moody Fire Rescue put out the flames, allowing the marina staff to put containment booms around the sunken boats to soak up fuel leaching into the water.

Shortly afterward, the Canadian Coast Guard arrived with equipment intended to collect diesel fuel.

Two days after the fire, coast guard divers swam around the sunken boats, sealing fuel vents to prevent more leaks, according to a statement to the Dispatch from Canadian Coast Guard media relations officer Andrée-Anne Poulin.

There was “no recoverable” fuel in the area, Poulin stated, noting the coast guard conducted a shoreline assessment.

The last of the sunken boats was hauled out of the area on Saturday. The coast guard also gave permission for the boom to be removed.

“There were no reports of wildlife impacted by the incident,” Poulin stated.

Costs could fall to the boat owners, according to Poulin.

“Under Canada’s ‘polluter pays’ principle, boat owners are responsible for addressing risks or hazards caused by their vessels and for covering the related costs. This includes cleanup, repairs, and any response actions taken by the Canadian Coast Guard,” Poulin stated.

There were no injuries in the Dec. 27 fire, confirmed Port Moody Police Department spokesperson Const. Sam Zacharias.

“Working with fire investigators, we do not believe the fire is suspicious in nature,” Zacharias stated.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to speak to police.