Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) is continuing implementation of the Enhanced Response Regime described in our Project Application and included as part of CER Condition 133. This spill response enhancement program will see $150 million invested in new equipment and new response bases in the Salish Sea.


As of January 31, 2021, WCMRC has made significant progress in spill response enhancements, including:

  • Ten response vessels have been delivered, including three coastal response vehicles (CRVs), three oil spill response vessels and four workboats as part of the enhancements to WCMRC’s fleet as a result of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. There are also 30 vessels currently being built as part of the 44 new response vessels that will double the current WCMRC fleet to 88 vessels.
  • In 2020, construction began on new spill response bases in Port Alberni, Nanaimo, North Saanich, Beecher Bay and Vancouver Harbour. There will be a total of six new spill response bases in the South Coast of British Columbia. The proposed bases would include 24/7 on-water bases in Vancouver Harbour and North Saanich.
  • Eighty-five new employees have been hired out of their target of 135. Most of these employees are assigned to the new bases on Vancouver Island.



Renderings of the WCMRC Vancouver Harbour Response Base.


Renderings of WCMRC mobile skimmer vessel.


These improvements are British Columbia’s largest-ever expansion of spill response personnel and equipment on the South Coast and will double response capacity while significantly reducing delivery time compared to existing planning standards.

Although the Trans Mountain Expansion Project is facilitating the entire funding, the new WCMRC personnel, vessels and equipment will be available for any spill incident along the BC southern marine shipping route. This will further improve safety for the entire shipping industry, as well as residential, commercial and other users who traverse and enjoy the waters off the coast.