Seven Greenpeace protesters climbed the catwalk girders under the Ironworkers bridge early this morning and rappelled to hang from ropes suspended under the bridge.
The protesters say they intend to stop an oil tanker Serene Sea from leaving the Westridge oil terminal in Burnaby and travelling through Burrard Inlet.
Mike Hudema, a Greenpeace campaigner and one of the protesters hanging from the bridge, said if a tanker tried to come under the bridge while the protesters are suspended there, it would not have enough clearance.
Protesters unfurled four streamers painted by Indigenous artists earlier this morning and planned to unfurl larger banners with slogans like “Protect Waters” and “Stop Pipelines,” said Hudema.
He said in addition to stopping the tanker traffic, the protest is intended to call attention to the date of July 22, when the Canadian government’s deal to buy the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion project completes.
“I’m hoping as many people as possible call the prime minister” to protest that decision, said Hudema.
Hudema said the protesters – who have a support crew of five more people on the catwalk under the bridge deck – are roped in with industrial-grade climbing equipment and are lying in hammocks under the bridge. They are equipped with sleeping bags and enough food and water for two days and are prepared to stay overnight, he said.
Officers from the Vancouver Police Department’s Marine Unit are on scene in Burrard Inlet underneath the bridge and are assessing the situation, said Const. Jason Doucette. Doucette said public safety is the top priority for the police.
Calls to the port authority and to Trans Mountain had not been returned by mid-morning.
More to come.
