Ladysmith harbour faces new risk from second derelict boat

A derelict tug boat that was threatening the shellfish industry in Baynes Sound, B.C. has been towed southtoLadysmith, B.C. But, some are concerned the Canadian Coast Guard will not make good on its promise to dismantle the 30-metre abandoned Silver King.

"It's just that the last time the federal government towed a vessel intoLadysmithit was four years ago, the vessel is still there," saidSheila Malcolmson,MP forNanaimo-Ladysmith.

She's talking about the Viki Lyne II, which was brought into Ladysmith in 2012 and still has 13,000 litres of fuel on board.

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Malcolmsonhas a private members' bill which aims to designatethe Coast Guard as the primary responder to derelict and abandoned vessels, but it is only in its first reading in Parliament.

"We can't do it in an adhoc way," she said about having multiple agencies deal with abandoned boats depending on their circumstances. "We can't do it one boat at a time."

Meanwhile the federal Liberals promise they are working on cleaning up derelict boats like the Silver King and the Viki Lyne II.

"We realize that this is an issue and we are making sure that we address it as quickly as possible," saidKate Young, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport.

Meanwhilethe Coast Guard saidthe Silver King will be dismantled and it will continue tomonitor the Viki Lyne II.