KOTUG Canada Inc. and Sc’ianew First Nation have signed a Mutual Benefits Agreement, outlining details of the unique and meaningful partnership that supports KOTUG Canada’s long-term agreement with Trans Mountain for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP). The agreement encompasses the provision and operation of a Spill Response Vessel and two Escort Tugs to support the TMEP in close coordination with the Sc’ianew.
The MBA shows KOTUG Canada’s commitment to respecting Sc’ianew culture, traditions, and historical connection within the Nation’s territorial waters. The agreement includes the related training and development of Sc’ianew community members to ensure they gain the necessary experience and knowledge in the field of advanced safe tug operations and marine response.
Importantly, the partnership between KOTUG Canada and the Sc’ianew First Nation provides vessel crews opportunities to learn from traditional knowledge and operate with respect and appreciation of the unique natural habitat of British Columbia’s coastal environment.
In preparation for the upcoming TMEP, KOTUG Canada has worked closely with the Beecher Bay community to create new career opportunities and train Sc’ianew marine cadets on KOTUG Canada and parent company vessels. This provides Indigenous cadets with mandatory experience and knowledge in advanced safe tug operations and marine response. The cadets trained on the Horizon Arctic and the oil-spill-response-vessel (OSRV) in the North Sea and will return home to BC and join the crew of the K.J. Gardner, a 187 tonnes bollard pull anchor-handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel, suitably equipped for enhanced spill response duties as well as emergency towage and support duties.
Another important element that the Mutual Benefits Agreement (MBA)outlines is installing and operating a new floating docking facility in Cheanuh Marina in Beecher Bay, British Columbia. This floating docking facility consists of an existing barge that will be refitted and transformed to act as a breakwater and a berthing facility for KOTUG Canada’s OSRV and two (2) dedicated Escort Tugs.
Signing the MBA represents a major milestone in KOTUG Canada’s partnership with the Sc’ianew First Nation, located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, strategically located along the Trans Mountain Shipping lanes. Using Beecher Bay as KOTUG Canada’s home base for its operations allows for fast response times in case of emergencies. Additionally, the barge supports further enhancement of the Cheanuh Marina commercial activities in Beecher Bay within Sc’ianew Territory.
To protect the environment and delicate marine life in our oceans, all KOTUG Canada vessels will be coated with a revolutionary non-toxic vessel hull coating developed in Canada by Graphite Innovation & Technologies that reduces underwater radiated noise.
(Image from Kotug of final rendering of vessel ponton)
