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The Raising of the Zodiac Light

by Jody Goffic 2022

Zodiac Light

The Zodiac Light on the hard (Photo by Jody Goffic (CCG).)

While owned by Greg Smith, the Zodiac Light sank at her berth at Haisla (Kitimat Village) in February of 2018. This vessel was salvaged by Wainwright Marine and Adams Diving, under contract by the Canadian Coast Guard Environmental Response. The vessel was deconstructed and disposed several months later by Wainwright Marine in Prince Rupert BC. Marine incidents of this nature are always sad with the loss of the vessel.

Zodiac Light

The Zodiac Light at the start of the recovery process. (Photo by Ron MacDonald (CCG).)

The Nauticapedia states that the Zodiac Light (ON 198627) "was built in 1955 at Dollarton by Matsumoto & Sons Shipyards Ltd. 58.3’ x 17.8’ x 7.2’ (17.77m x 5.43m x 2.19m) with a wood hull 61.08gt 41.53rt. She was originally powered by a 190bhp diesel engine by Murphy Diesel Co., Milwaukee WI USA. Repowered in 1968 with a 325bhp turbo-charged diesel engine by Caterpillar Tractor Corp."

The Nauticapedia states that "In 1955–1968 she was owned by Andrew C. Christiansen (MO), New Westminster BC. In 1968–1969 she was owned by Olaf J. Wick (MO), North Surrey BC. In 1969–1977 she was owned by Wick Fishing Ltd., Vancouver BC. In 1977–1986 she was owned by Reginald R. Smith, Kitimat BC. In 1987–1997 she was owned by Hannah E. Smith, Kitimat BC. In 2001–2020 she was owned by Greg Smith, Kitimat BC."

Zodiac Light

The Zodiac Light (Photo by Ron MacDonald (CCG).)

The recovery of the vessel requires the participation of several specialists and some big equipment. Bringing the vessel up without causing more environmental and infrastructure damage is the goal of the operation.

Zodiac Light

The Zodiac Light (Photo by Ron MacDonald (CCG).)

I am the Senior Response Officer (Environmental Response) for the Canadian Coast Guard in Prince Rupert BC. The Canadian Coast Guard Environmental Response program aims to reduce the impact of marine pollution spills on: public safety; the economy; the environment and culturally significant sites. We oversee the response to spills from ships and unknown sources in Canadian waters. To stay prepared for emergency response, we maintain a national plan that outlines how to respond to spills and have specialized response teams in each region of Canada. We participate in national and international spill response exercises; develop and maintain joint emergency plans with Canadian response partners, coastal communities and other nations.


To quote from this article please cite:

Goffic, Jody (2022) The Raising of the Zodiac Light. Nauticapedia.ca 2021. http://nauticapedia.ca/Gallery/Zodiac_Light.php

Nauticapedia

Site News: May 08, 2024

The vessel database has been updated and is now holding 92,807 vessel histories (with 15,646 images and 13,442 records of ship wrecks and marine disasters). The mariner and naval biography database has also been updated and now contains 58,616 entries (with 4,013 images).

In 2023 the Nauticapedia celebrated the 50th Anniversary of it’s original inception in 1973 (initially it was on 3" x 5" file cards). It has developed, expanded, digitized and enlarged in those ensuing years to what it is now online. If it was printed out it would fill more than 300,000 pages!

My special thanks to our volunteer IT adviser, John Eyre, who (since 2021) has modernized, simplified and improved the update process for the databases into a semi–automated processes. His participation has been vital to keeping the Nauticapedia available to our netizens.

Also my special thanks to my volunteer content accuracy checker, John Spivey of Irvine CA USA, who has proofread thousands of Nauticapedia vessel histories and provided input to improve more than 11,000 entries. His attention to detail has been a huge unexpected bonus in improving and updating the vessel detail content.

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