VICTORIA, BC, July 31, 2024 /CNW/ - The Canadian Coast Guard is
responsible for many light stations across Canada that help to keep Canadian waterways
safe. At the same time, the safety of personnel is the highest
priority. Therefore, the Canadian Coast Guard has made the
difficult decision to cease light keeper functions at both
the Carmanah Point and Pachena Point light stations in
British Columbia due to recently
identified safety risks. Aids to Navigation at both sites will
continue to operate and support the safety of mariners and other
users travelling on the waters off the southwest coast of Vancouver
Island.
A geotechnical investigation and geological hazard assessment
found that many of the buildings at both Carmanah Point and Pachena
Point light stations are within an area of increased vulnerability.
The soil conditions mean that some facilities are no longer safe to
use. While the Canadian Coast Guard is working with Fisheries and
Oceans Canada to investigate long-term options for the sites, the
priority is to ensure the safety of the light keepers, who will be
moved out of the buildings before the winter weather creates
additional challenges.
The two light house towers and other heritage buildings will
remain in place and under the care of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
The Canadian Coast Guard will continue to operate navigational aids
from both sites using available technologies such as solar power
and automated lights.
The light keepers will be offered an alternate position at other
light stations or within the Canadian Coast Guard. The Canadian
Coast Guard is grateful to the many light keepers who have worked
at the Carmanah Point and Pachena Point light stations over the
years.
Carmanah Point and Pachena Point light stations hold cultural
and historical interest to the people of British Columbia and Canada, and especially to those who live in
the area and hikers using the West Coast Trail. The Canadian Coast
Guard is working with other departments and stakeholders, who also
use the two sites for non-Canadian Coast Guard related purposes, to
plan next steps.
The Canadian Coast Guard continues to keep mariners safe on the
British Columbia coast with more
than 3,500 other navigational aids, 121 vessels, 15 Lifeboat
Stations, four Inshore Rescue Bases, and five environmental
response depots.
Quick Facts
- The land underneath the Pachena Point and Carmanah Point light
stations is not stable enough for the Canadian Coast Guard's
requirements and is impacting use of the stations. For example:
- the winch building at Carmanah and its associated system have
been condemned,
- and the helipad at Carmanah was condemned due to ground
settlement.
- The instability of the land under the stations also increases
the risk of a slope failure in the event of a large earthquake.
While earthquakes occur in all regions across Canada, Vancouver Island is rated as having a
high probability of experiencing a large earthquake.
- Long-term options, which include the cost of stabilizing the
two sites or moving the highest risk buildings to safer ground, are
being assessed. However, those options are expected to be complex
and could be cost-prohibitive.
- Available technologies such as solar power will support ongoing
navigation service to mariners and other users. Automated lights
have already been in use at Carmanah Point and Pachena Point light
stations since 2003.
- The twenty-five other staffed light stations on the
British Columbia coast will
continue with normal operations as part of the Canadian Coast
Guard's network of navigational aids on the British Columbia coast.
Related products
- Canadian Coast Guard's Aids to Navigation program
- The Canadian Aids to Navigation System (video)
Associated links
- Carmanah Point Lighthouse
- Pachena Point Lighttower
Stay Connected
- Follow the Canadian Coast Guard on X, Facebook, Instagram and
YouTube.
SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region