The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is advising residents of demolition training off the southern tip of Vancouver Island over the next month.
From June 25 until July 23, demolitions training is expected to occur in three areas near Metchosin, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Two of the training sites will be above ground – including at Bentick Island and the Rocky Point Destruction Range – while one location will be used for underwater demolition training at the Whirl Bay Underwater Demolition Range, south of Rocky Point.
At Bentick Island, the RCN says it will be monitoring for wildlife, and that a third party marine mammal observer will be on site to make sure the range is clear of whales before any blasting takes place.
“Local residents will likely be unaware of the activities except on days when atmospheric conditions affect how far sound may travel,” said the navy in a release Tuesday.
‘Stray ammunition’
Meanwhile, the Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) will be conducting “administrative destruction” at the Rocky Point Destruction Range over the next month.
The range is located on the Rocky Point Peninsula in Metchosin, between Beecher Bay and Pedder Bay.
“In the unlikely event stray ammunition or explosive objects are encountered do not pick up or retain objects as souvenirs, and notify local police immediately to make arrangements for disposal,” said the RCN.
Lastly, the navy is reminding people to avoid the underwater training at the Whirl Bay Underwater Demolition Range.
The navy says local residents will likely not hear the training, unless they are on the water.
The navy has also set up a bubble curtain around the training site to “mitigate the impact of underwater detonation in Whirl Bay by diminishing/weakening water overpressure/shock waves.”
The RCN stresses that no unauthorized person is allowed to enter any of the training sites.
SEE ALSO: Western Canada’s first Arctic navy vessel coming to CFB Esquimalt
Adam Chan
