English Bay barge removal plans unveiled

More than seven months after the barge was beached on the shores of Sunset Beach, the City of Vancouver has announced it will soon be removed.

According to a release, the barge will first be secured and then deconstructed. The city says fencing and barriers will be installed this week.

The barge will be taken apart piece by piece before being transported to a staging area. The pieces will be processed and then recycled.

The city estimates the work will take about 12 to 15 weeks to complete. People will still be able to access the seawall during this time.


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Work will be done during the weekdays, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The city says consultation was done with industry experts, as well as local First Nations.

“Hazardous material, archeological and structural assessments have been completed to ensure the sensitive marine environment is protected,” the city adds.

The barge was sent adrift by high winds off English Bay on Nov. 15. Combined with a King Tide, it ran aground on Sunset Beach and would not budge despite efforts from the company that owns it.

There had been attempts by a single tugboat to remove the barge shortly after it gone stuck, but those efforts were unsuccessful.

Many have argued that the barge is an eyesore, while others have embraced it, some even calling it a sort of art installation. It also sparked a social media frenzy called #BargeWatch2021 where many would post pictures and videos as they flocked to the beach in hopes of catching the barge being towed away, to no avail.

In February, it was announced that plans were being developed to remove the barge once and for all.

In addition to being a photo stop for many, the barge has also been the backdrop for a proposal, has had its own live camera, and has even prompted the Vancouver Park Board to officially recognize it with a sign which reads “Barge Chilling Beach.”

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