The Northern View, July 23, 2014

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PRINCE RUPERT VOL. 9 NO. 30

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

FREE

Coal freighter runs aground, takes on water

UP FROM THE DEEP Feature

Ship awaiting repairs before leaving Rupert

Heart of our city: Life-saver Shepard Page A6

BY MARTINA PERRY PRINCE RUPERT / The Northern View

A 228-metre bulk carrier that ran aground 15 kilometres off of Ridley Island more than a week ago will be able sail away after repairs are completed. Shortly after 10 p.m. on July 14, the Amakusa Island ran aground when it was shifting position from berth at Ridley Terminals to its assigned anchorage. The vessel, which was loaded with 80,000 metric - Michael Gurney tonnes of coal, began to take on water after suffering damage to its hull with its water-tight bulkheads being closed to prevent more from entering.

“The vessel is resting more evenly in the water.”

Business Realty sales boom in first half Page A8

Kevin Campbell / The Northern View

Beandan Hagen, 16, was one of the Prince Rupert swimmers who had a strong showing at the B.C. Long Course AAA Championships in Victoria earlier this month. For more on this story, see Page A12.

See GROUNDING on Page A2

Sports Rampage hit the links for charity Page A14

Haida Gwaii Outer Shores back for 2015 Page B1

D

SOL

1738 Jamaica Ave $295,000

City strikes deal with second LNG firm Small terminal would be built on Watson Island BY MARTINA PERRY PRINCE RUPERT / The Northern View

The City of Prince Rupert is hoping liquefied natural gas (LNG) will turn Watson Island into the economic generator it once was. The city recently entered an exclusivity agreement with Watson Island LNG Corporation (WILNG) to explore repurposing the former pulp mill site into a small LNG export terminal. The city had “entertained” other offers but chose to proceed with WILNG because it “represented the best value for taxpayers”. The exclusivity agreement will span until the end of 2014. Prince Rupert Mayor Jack Mussallem said he is not permitted to disclose how much the city will receive for the deal as part of the agreement, but did say WILNG will be taking on the site’s

“We don’t believe that WatCo has a case.” - Jack Mussallem maintenance fees. “We recognize the city has gone down this road before, however we have never given up on our vision to repurpose Watson Island and get it back on the tax roll,” said Mussallem, adding council believes the company has a vision for Watson Island that will be beneficial. Ed Neibauer, who throughout nearly 40 years working in oil and gas industries has owned and operated a number of companies and projects based primarily in the U.S., formed WILNG in

April. He said the project is in the planning stage, with WILNG anticipating the facility will begin operations and handle between one and two million tonnes per year in the later part of 2016. “We are looking forward to establishing good working relationships with the community, First Nations and regulators to bring the company’s development plans to fruition,” he said. Before the city can sell Watson Island it must settle a lawsuit launched by the Watson Island Development Corporation (WatCo) that includes certificates of pending litigation on the site. But unlike the lengthy legal battles the city had against former-owners Sun Wave Forest Products, Mussallem alluded to a difference in the claims. “In the province of British Columbia for anything to be enforceable it must be in writing. We don’t believe that WatCo has a case,” he said.

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