Residents in Port Alberni, British Columbia, are expressing worry and surprise over plans to bring a ship-recycling/shipbreaking industry to the local waterfront. Neighbors are calling for more information from the city about where these operations would occur and how the environment would be protected as officials look to create new jobs in the area.
The concerns follow the launch of a Ship Recycling Leadership Group and support from federal and provincial officials, including MP Gord Johns, for ship-recycling initiatives in the Alberni Valley. A company called Canadian Maritime Engineering has expressed interest in using its facility near Canal Beach for vessel-recycling projects.
Many local people fear that dismantling old ships could release hazardous materials such as asbestos and heavy metals (copper, zinc, lead) into waters used for swimming and boating. Those worries were amplified by the Deep Water Recovery operation in nearby Union Bay, which had its Crown land lease revoked in July 2025 after provincial authorities cited persistent environmental violations, including elevated effluent levels, and the company’s failure to provide an updated $3.2 million security deposit.
Port Alberni City Council issued a letter of support in October 2025 for the Coastal Restoration Society’s vessel-recycling facility proposal, but the community is now pushing for more transparency as the city updates its Official Community Plan in February 2026. Transport Canada currently has no specific federal permitting regime for ship recycling on land, meaning provincial environmental laws (including effluent regulations) and municipal zoning and bylaws would be the primary regulatory mechanisms.
Supporters of a regional hub argue it could be a greener, locally based solution for hundreds of aging vessels on the B.C. coast and could help the local economy recover from the decline of the forestry sector. However, residents are asking for clear details on traffic impacts, safety measures and contamination safeguards before any industrial work begins near recreational sites and homes.
