Press Articles
Listed in chronological order - newest to oldest.
Gabriolans took part in dramatic ferry rescue
As BC Ferries’ Queen of Oak Bay slammed into boats moored at Sewell’s Marina in Horseshoe Bay, eventually running aground with 600 people and vehicles aboard, at 10:10 am on Thursday, June 30th, broadcast media went on-air live from the scene for several hours, reporting on the incident, sending unforgettable images around the world, mesmerizing millions of people who tuned in.
At LeBoeuf Bay, on Gabriola Island, headquarters for Vessel Assist, Captain Paul Gray heard a call from Victoria Coast Guard radio and immediately put his emergency response and salvage team on scramble time.
Loading his Vessel Assist Georgia Strait and dive boat Bottom Time, with a portable compressor, 12 dive tanks, booms, environmental pads, salvage lift bags, underwater video equipment and other miscellaneous gear, he proceeded to the site with his sons, Jonas and Tyler, also both Transport Canada licensed captains, able-bodied seaman Daniel Kennedy, a local dive-master, and underwater photographer Pierre Gagnon on board.
Continue reading the full story
By Bruce Mason - Gabriola Sounder - July 2005
Vessel Breanna rescued in Nanaimo Harbour
In a letter to a Nanaimo newspaper an "eyewitness" reported the sinking of a large boat in Nanaimo Harbour, August 18, within easy view of the city, after a failed "amateur rescue attempt."
That was news to Gabriola's Captain Paul Gray, of Vessel Assist, responsible for rescue and salvage in Georgia Strait. He had a different perspective - up close and personal - as head of a difficult and complex salvage operation, which would eventually involve 20 crew and utilize a massive amount of equipment.
The effort was anything but amateur and resulted in the rescue of the multi-million dollar, 25 year-old, Breanna, rather than sinking, as reported.
Continue reading the full story
Bill deCarteret - Gabriola Sounder - June 2003
Congrats
"Gabriola's Captain Paul Gray has been elected President of Canadian Marine Assistance Salvage & Towing Association, CMAST, The Voice of Professional Assistance Providers.
Captain Gray is well known locally for his 10 years as an operator with C-Tow, responding to thousands of calls and hundreds of salvages including the grounding of Sea Span's Coastal Express $12 million dollar barge. The extensive clean-up was considered a model of "how it should be done."
The Canadian Coast Guard invited commercial assist operators to establish an association so that a uniform standard of reliable professional service is always available to mariners."
Bill deCarteret - Gabriola Sounder - June 2003