On 28 February, KOTUG Canada proudly joined hands with Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) and Sc’ianew First Nations to celebrate the arrival of the K.J. Gardner, the largest spill response vessel in Canada, to its permanent home at the new base in Beecher Bay, Vancouver Island.
This significant milestone signifies the realisation of a collaboration initiated in November 2021, wherein WCMRC and KOTUG Canada partnered to provide and manage a dedicated OSV, equipped for continuous 24/7 oil spill response services. Designed to protect the Salish Sea including Haro Strait and Juan de Fuca Strait, this OSV stands as a substantial enhancement of Canada’s West Coast oil spill response capacity.
At 245 feet with 1,000 tonnes of oil storage capacity, the K.J. Gardner emerges as the flagship of the WCMRC fleet. Its arrival empowers WCMRC to launch a large-scale response within six hours anywhere along the shipping lanes, bolstering environmental protection efforts significantly.
KOTUG Canada is honoured to undertake the operation of this vessel, working hand in hand with the Sc’ianew First Nation, fostering a synergy that underlines our commitment to responsible marine practices and Indigenous partnerships.