Submitted by Peggy Kolosoff, Kiwi Cove Lodge, April 2011
Keep a look out for a large log carrying vessel in Ladysmith’s outer harbor. Once or twice a week log barges owned by Seaspan Canada drop raw logs into the local waters. Each load is about 17,000 M3 of various wood types including Douglas Fir, Hemlock, Balsam, Cedar and Cypress along with the occasional pine and alder.
The logs originate from west and north areas of Vancouver Island such as Gold River, Holberg, Port Alice and Port Hardy where presorted bundles of logs are loaded (crossway) onto the deck of the barge using its own cranes. The barge is then towed and when it arrives in the outer Ladysmith Harbour there are several work boats waiting to contain the dumped load. The method for offloading is quite interesting and somewhat of a spectator sport for many locals. First timer viewers are fascinated and may be alarmed to see what looks like a ship in distress! Here’s how it’s done.
The barge hull has special built-in tanks which are gradually flooded with sea water on one side, causing the vessel to list (tip) until the load releases and the barge slides away. The process can take over an hour but don’t take your eyes off because it can all be over in a few seconds.
Now the smaller tugs circle the load with boom sticks and tow it into the booming grounds owned by Western Forest Products. This is the “log sort” in Burleith Arm, seen across the harbor from the town of Ladysmith. Here the wood is sorted by species and grade and made into “booms” which are towed to local Western Forest Product mills which include: Saltair Sawmill, Ladysmith Sawmill, Chemainus Sawmill, Cowichan Bay Sawmill, Duke Point Sawmill and Nanaimo Sawmill.
The best (and safest) place to watch a Log barge dump event is on the Chemainus Road near the Lagoon bridge, or from Elliot Beach. Don’t forget your camera.
Log barge (Source: Wikipedia)
