Staff, first responders credited for successful outcome to Bellevue Marina boat sinking

When a 31-foot wooden boat launched at the Bellevue marina on Wednesday shortly before noon went into immediate distress, marina staff and first responders reacted quickly and efficiently for a successful outcome, says the city's Director of Community Services, Brent Lamming.

The boat didn't have any obvious holes but started to take on water immediately upon launch.

"It looked like it was maybe coming in through some of the seams," Lamming said.

The bow of the boat came to rest on the bottom beside the dock and the stern was hung up on the launch.

One marina staffer called Sault Ste. Marie Emergency Medical Services and Fire Services as well as the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and the Canadian Coast Guard, in accordance with standard operating procedures.

Other staff members placed booms around the boat to contain any spills that might occur.

"Their training and experience resulted in a successful outcome to a situation that could have been much worse," said Lamming. "If the boat had sunk out in the bay we could have had a much different outcome."

There are usually between one or two and under half a dozen Community Services staff on scene at the Bondar and Bellevue marinas, both of which are operated by the city, and they are all well trained and have access to an emergency response manual, he said.

The Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services crew of pumper three responded to assist marina staff in containing possible spills, said Aaron Gravelle, Public Education Officer, Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services.

"They (marina staff) were the lead in this and had the scene secured. Our crew assisted where needed," he said.

Marina staff, first responders and the MOE worked together to assess the situation and devise a plan once they were assured that everyone was okay and the scene at the marina was secure.

A pump was brought aboard the sunken boat to begin pumping water out of it and a second was added shortly after.

It took a little more than five hours to float the boat enough that it could be turned and hauled out of the water. 

A small amount of oil and fuel did leak but it was contained within the booms and most of it evaporated during the course of pumping out, turning and extracting the boat, Lamming said.

There was no damage to the launch or docking structure and it was reopened at 7 a.m. Thursday.

"Everyone on the scene did an outstanding job," Lamming said. "They reacted in a caring and compassionate way to the boat owners and occupants and the situation was rectified quickly and efficiently."

The boat was safely removed from the water and secured for towing shortly after 6 p.m. on Wednesday.