To give folks a sense of the scale and frequency of anchor dragging incidents we present a chart showing Prince Rupert anchorages and a series of images showing the January 30th 2020 AIS tracks of seven large bulk carriers which appear to have dragged anchor: Pedhoulas Commander at anchorage #15, Sakizaya Diamond at #6, Whitehawk at #5, Santiago Basin at #17, Kurenai at #25, Scarlet Island at #29 and Belatlantic at #4.

These and other examples for 2018-2020 have not been officially confirmed as "risk of grounding incidents" in Transport Canada's list. There is a very long delay, eleven have been confirmed for 2017. Each incident increases the risk of a fuel spill in the estuary.

Images may be distorted in some media.

Pedhoulas Commander, at anchorage #15, appears to have dragged anchor more than half a kilometer before maneuvering out, without a tug present, about 9 AM January 30th when the Airport registered SE winds gusting 48 kn SE (89 km/hr). At one time she appears to be about 500 m from a grounding hazard at South Rachel Island and at another less than 400 m from the anchored Jal Tara both of which were downwind of her.  The vessel is to scale and is 229 meters long.

Sakizaya Diamond, at anchorage #6, appears to have dragged anchor. Which appears to have left her less than 400 m from shore near Russel Point in the inner harbour at about 10 AM, with no tug, when it was gusting SE 46 knots (85 km/hr) at the airport.  About 10:30 AM the Smit Humber arrived and helped move her to #5. The vessel is to scale and is 229 meters long.

Whitehawk at anchorage #5, appears to have run into difficulty in this 6.30 AM January 30^th She had re anchored here at #5 at 8 AM Jan 29^th after having been moved from #7. She appears to have run into difficulty again at this anchorage, coming to within about 150 m of grounding hazards off Douglas Point in the inner harbour. She left anchorage #5 about 9.30 AM on Jan 30^th without tug escort and winds reported to be gusting SE 48 knots at the airport. The vessel is to scale and is 200 meters long.

Santiago Basin at anchorage #17, was anchored off the Rachel Islands on January 29^th and 30^th. She appears to have dragged anchor by well over 100 m. The vessel is to scale and is 180 m long.  

Kurenai at anchorage # 25, anchored off Stephens Island appears to have dragged anchor over 150 m in this image of her track taken at 7 am January 30^th .

The Kurenai is 228m long and is shown to scale though partially hidden under the blue track lines.

Scarlet Island at anchorage #29, appears to have dragged anchor badly off Stephens Island. In this image, taken at 6 AM January 30^th, it appears to have left the anchorage without a tug present and winds reported to be gusting SSE 37 knots at the airport and 53 at Rose Spit. The vessel is to scale and is 229 m. A tug arrived at about 6:45 AM to assist it.

Belatlantic at anchorage #4, appears to have dragged anchor, coming within about a boat length of shore with no tug present. The time of this track image is 10:30 am January 30^th with winds reported by the airport to be gusting 46 at 10 AM. The vessel is to scale and is 199 meters long.