Nanaimo Port Authority reviewing marina security following repeated boat break-ins

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A suspect scours around Andrew Reynolds’ custom-made work tugboat at Nanaimo Marina on the morning of Monday, June 15. (Image Credit: Video screenshot/Andrew Reynolds)

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Nanaimo Port Authority reviewing marina security following repeated boat break-ins

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On Feb. 1, Reynolds’ boat was ravaged and barricaded in a several-hour-long standoff involving a suspect on board for several hours, causing substantial damage and leading to widespread media coverage.

The accused, Marcel Alvin Fontaine, remains in custody.

This time around, Reynolds said thankfully there was limited damage, and nothing was stolen from his boat.

His vessel’s interior was extensively rummaged through, he said.

Security footage showed the man with a flashlight peering throughout the boat’s interior, including the engine room and back exterior deck.

Reynolds said a sharp-eyed Cameron Island resident realized something was out of place when the suspect dismantled the Canadian flag hanging from the boat’s stern.

Nanaimo RCMP were called, and the suspect was arrested.

The suspect grabbed and threw down the boat’s Canadian flag, raising suspicion. (Image Credit: Video screenshot/Andrew Reynolds.)

W.E. Mills Landing is guarded by a primary exterior gate at Cameron Island, part of the broader Nanaimo Marina property with several access points along the inner harbour area.

Reynolds is calling on the NPA for enhanced crime-resistant exterior gating to more meaningfully prevent thieves from putting property and personal safety at risk.

He said more smooth vertical surfaces for exterior gating would go a long way in more effectively restricting access.

“So they can’t scale it, right now it’s pretty much like a glorified ladder system. They can climb up and over, gain access really easy,” Reynolds told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Reynolds said having enhanced safety on Nanaimo’s waterfront is important for a variety of reasons, stating his boat is docked in an area where numerous visiting vessels moor overnight.

He said the boating community, whether it’s locals or visitors, deserve a safer, more secure inner harbour.

“From a tourism perspective, it’s going to affect us, it’s going to affect business as a whole for our whole community.”

Nanaimo Port Authority responds

Responsible for overseeing the Nanaimo Marina, encompassing the Nanaimo Boat Basin and adjacent W.E. Mills Landing, the Nanaimo Port Authority (NPA) states it’s aware of the most recent June 15 incident and is working closely with the RCMP during an ongoing investigation.

An NPA statement noted it operates under federally regulated security requirements and maintains controlled access, monitoring, and reporting protocols.

“While specific security measures are not disclosed for operational reasons, we are assessing the circumstances of this incident to identify opportunities for improvement. As part of that commitment, we have recently introduced additional patrols and are implementing further measures, including enhancements to access control, infrastructure, and surveillance, to help deter unauthorized access,” the NPA statement read.

The NPA is one of 17 federally designated ports in the country, including one of four in B.C.

Addressing unauthorized access to the Nanaimo Marina is an ongoing topic of discussion for the Nanaimo Port Authority.

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