The Comox Valley Regional District has initiated court action against the shipbreaking company in Union Bay.

The Comox Valley Regional District has initiated court action against the shipbreaking company in Union Bay.

The CVRD “filed a notice of civil claim with the Supreme Court of British Columbia seeking assistance from the court to stop ship breaking operations at 5084 Island Highway,” on Thursday, April 14.

The action was approved by the board at the Feb. 15 meeting, after the company – Deep Water Recovery – ignored an injunction filed in January to halt the operation because it contravenes zoning bylaws.

In a recent interview, DWR owner Mark Jurisich said his operation is not shipbreaking. He prefers to call it dismantling, while he considers shipbreaking to be “a disorganized mess.”

Jim Drummond, facility manager of Canadian Maritime Engineering’s shipyard in Nanaimo, considers shipbreaking and dismantling to be synonymous terms.

“No matter which way you slice it, it’s the same thing,” Drummond said.