READY

The ex-Coast Guard Cutter Ready, sank in Britannia Beach about a year ago, the vessel had been owned by the Maritime Heritage Society of Vancouver along with several other vessels, the Seaspan Chinook and the Tyee Princess. The vessels were abandoned when the society went under. Currently the Province is attempting to deal with these vessels, but with not much luck.

In this video you can see the vessel filmed by divers from the Underwater Council of BC, SECS and the Underwater Archaeological society of BC. It's my voice droning on (hate the sound of my own voice) telling a bit of the story of this vessel. I served on her and her sistership the CCGS Racer. There is a good report on the Wrecks of Britanna Beach at the SECS link above.

In better days

 The Seapan Chinook also sank but is in 65 metres of water. the Tyee Princess fate is likely soon to be sealed, her hull is getting thin, she will either sink where she is, or be towed for scrap. I remember the Tyee Princess working the small coastal communities like Namu, Klemtu. she was owned by Coastal Ferries .


I was up in Namu not to long ago, the place is really falling apart, sad to see.

At the dock is the Chilcotin Princess, which was part of the same company as the Tyee Princess. I don't think she is long for this world either.

Swanson Bay, the town that vanished

While reviewing a project I came across the story of Swanson bay, a ghost town on the west coast of British Columbia. In 1901 the BC government passed an Act that allowed companies a interest in the land if the set up a mill. The Canadian Pacific Sulphite Pulp Co. Ltd. took up the challenge in 1906 and 1909 began to produce lumber. The town was serviced by the CPR and Union Steamship vessels. By 1919 the town had a population of 500 people producing 100,000 board feet a day , sulphite pulp and shingles.

In 1923 an earthquake hit Japan, their biggest customer (history repeats itself!) Sometime after 1925 the mill was closed and the town began to lose it's population. Soon the only persons there was a watchman. At some point around the 40's the town was completely abandoned. this is not an uncommon story on the coast, many towns were completely dependent on one company and mill/mine, when it would shut down the town would die. the mortal remain of the town exists but shrouded in the dense bush. If you have taken a cruise ship up the inside passage than you have passed the bones of this ghost town.

I have gleamed this information and pictures from 2 websites, please visits them, for more of the story and some excellent pictures.