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The End of Life of the Pacific Grizzly
by Jody Goffic and John MacFarlane 2022
The Pacific Grizzly sank at her berth in Bella Coola. Shallow berths there exposed the vessel on each low tide. Unfortunately this created problems for marina infrastructure that often gets damaged by these casualties. (Photo from the CCG File collection.)
Every vessel sinking is a tragedy and disaster regardless of the circumstances. More so when the vessel has a long and colourful history that gives a taste of nautical heritage on the Pacific coast. The Pacific Grizzly sank at her berth at Bella Coola BC on August 4th, 2015, at 1830hrs.
She was built in 1929 at Vancouver BC as the Vanisle by the Boeing Aircraft (Canada) Ltd. she was 67.3’ x 19.3’ x 9.1’ (20.51m x 5.88m x 2.77m) with a wooden hull and displacing 83.48gt 56.77rt. She was powered by a 135bhp diesel engine by Atlas Imperial Diesel Engine Co., Oakland CA. In 1963 she was re–powered with a 335bhp diesel engine, by General Motors Corp., Detroit, MI.
The Pacific Grizzly at Quathiaski Cove netloft while still named as the B.C.P. 50 (Photo from the John MacFarlane collection.)
In 1929–1997 she was owned by British Columbia Packers Ltd., Vancouver BC. In 1940 she was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy Fishermen’s Reserve as H.M.C.S. Van Isle. In 1944 she was returned to her owners British Columbia Packers Ltd., Vancouver BC as B.C.P. 50. In 1981 she was sold to James Sewid, Campbell River, BC. In 1981 she was sold to British Columbia Packers Ltd., Richmond, BC. In 2001–2015 she was owned by Leonard E. Ellis, Delta BC as Pacific Grizzly.
She formed part of the pre–Second World War Fishermen’s Reserve Fleet. She was mobilized and on September 7, 1939 she was commissioned as HMCS Vanisleinto the Royal Canadian Navy Fishermen’s Reserve. In 1942 she was serving as tender to H.M.C.S. Givenchy. In 1943 she was serving as tender to H.M.C.S. Givenchy II. In 1944 she was again serving as tender to H.M.C.S. Givenchy. In 1942 Bjarne Arnet (Coxswain RCNR) in command with Thomas Williams (Coxswain RCNR). In 1943 Trygve Arnet (Coxswain RCNR) in command with Geoffrey Child (Coxswain RCNR). In 1944 Trygve Arnet (Chief Skipper RCNR (FR)) in command with Joseph H. MacLeod (Coxswain RCNR (FR)).
Aerial surveillance was tasked to assess the incident. The vessel was contained and workers on the wharf can be seen recovering waste material. (Photo from Transport Canada, National Aerial Surveillance Program (NASP).)
On August 4th 2015 at 1830hrs Canadian Coast Guard Emergency Response was notified that the Pacific Grizzly had sunk at her berth in Bella Coola. Her owner took immediate action to clean up pollution by working with the Harbour Authority to contain and recover fuel and debris. A Coast Guard Emergency Response Specialist was quickly on scene the following day to assist and monitor efforts.
By August 9th, a barge was positioned inside the containment area in preparation for salvage. Pacific Grizzly’s sister ship, the Silver Grizzly, can be seen at the top right. (Photo from Transport Canada, National Aerial Surveillance Program (NASP).)
Salvage day. Due to the mass of the vessel and the lack of equipment powerful enough to lift it, salvage was performed with an excavator. (Photo from the CCG File collection by Barry Cunningham.)
Salvage took several days to complete. The vessel was being held by her keel as the machine operator tried to maneuver it onto the barge. (Photo from the CCG File collection by Barry Cunningham.)
By August 15th the job was done and the wooden remains of the Pacific Grizzly were taken to a nearby log sort and burned. It was a sad end to this once great vessel. (Photo from the CCG collection.)
To quote from this article please cite:
Goffic, Jody and John MacFarlane (2022) The End of Life of the Pacific Grizzly. Nauticapedia.ca 2021. http://nauticapedia.ca/Gallery/Pacific_Gizzly.php
Site News: May 07, 2024
The vessel database has been updated and is now holding 92,798 vessel histories (with 15,646 images and 13,431 records of ship wrecks and marine disasters). The mariner and naval biography database has also been updated and now contains 58,616 entries (with 4,013 images).
In 2023 the Nauticapedia celebrated the 50th Anniversary of it’s original inception in 1973 (initially it was on 3" x 5" file cards). It has developed, expanded, digitized and enlarged in those ensuing years to what it is now online. If it was printed out it would fill more than 300,000 pages!
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