Ships Collide in English Bay

The Vancouver Sun reported that winds of up to almost 43 mph tore through the Lower Mainland, knocking out power to 14,000 homes and causing the collision of three large cargo ships in English Bay. The weather in the Lower Mainland followed a weekend storm across northern B.C. Coast Guard spokesman Dan Bate said that the high winds caused the 200-metre Westwood Victoria to lose its anchorage and drift into a second ship, the 167-metre New Accord. Bate said the collision caused damage to both vessels, including a puncture to the side of the Westwood Victoria above the waterline and damage to the anchor chain on the New Accord. Bate said collision separated the New Accord from its anchor, allowing the two ships to drift into a third vessel, the 117-metre Advance Pescadoras. The Port Authority and Harbour Master sent tugboats to help the three vessels, Bate said, explaining the ships were brought to port not long after the collision. He could not say for certain if the ships were carrying any cargo at the time but said authorities are satisfied there was no pollution as a result of the collisions. Source: Vancouver Sun