Tugboat carrying large fuel tank sinks in Fraser River

By Amy Judd Global News

Posted August 14, 2018 11:16 am

Updated August 14, 2018 10:40 pm

1 min read

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Click to play video: 'Sunken tugboat leaves thousands of litres of oil in the Fraser Rive'

1:41 Sunken tugboat leaves thousands of litres of oil in the Fraser Rive

WATCH: Crews are working to clean-up over 22,000 litres of oil in the Fraser River after a tugboat sunk late last night. Rumina Daya has more on the clean-up, and the potential lasting damage – Aug 14, 2018

A major salvage operation get underway Wednesday to raise a tug that sank early Tuesday morning in the Fraser River.

The City of Vancouver says the George H. Ledcor sank off Deering Island in the Fraser River between midnight and 1 a.m. on Tuesday.

The boat has a large tank onboard, carrying 22,000 litres of fuel.

A tug carrying as much as 22,000 litres of diesel fuel has capsized in the Fraser River between Vancouver and Richmond. CP Images

The exact amount of fuel being spilled is still being assessed at this time.

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WATCH: Submerged tugboat carrying large fuel tank sinks in Fraser River

Click to play video: 'Submerged tugboat carrying large fuel tank sinks in Fraser River'

0:31 Submerged tugboat carrying large fuel tank sinks in Fraser River

The Coast Guard and city environmental crews are now on scene assessing the situation. A boom has been put in place around the area.

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The tug is secured.

For safety reasons, an additional, larger crane and barge will be used to lift the tug on Wednesday. Spill containment equipment and personnel will remain on-site until the lift is completed.

#FraserRiver Tug Update: Situation Map of WCMRC and Canadian Coast Guard response assets on scene. @CoastGuardCAN @SpillsInfoBC pic.twitter.com/vOqnWUVg4r
— WCMRC (@MarineResponse) August 14, 2018

#CCGLive: Hovercraft CCGS Siyay on scene #FraserRiver #BC where a tug capsized. All persons on board are safe with no reported injuries. Tug is secured and containment boom is in place. Arrangements have been made to right the vessel later today and we remain on scene to support.
— Canadian Coast Guard (@CoastGuardCAN) August 14, 2018

Ledcor Marine has begun recovery operations and expects to raise the George H Ledcor tugboat later today. Divers & a salvage crane are on site at the North Arm of the Fraser River. Spill containment booms are still deployed
— Ledcor (@LedcorGroup) August 14, 2018

George H. Ledcor tug UPDATE: @SpillsInfoBC Environmental Emergency Response Officers (EEROs) have arrived at the site to assist with the response. Exact amount of fuel spilled is still being assessed at this time. Details: https://t.co/5KiyPc1k5i, @CoastGuardCAN @MarineResponse
— B.C. Spill Response (@SpillsInfoBC) August 14, 2018

No one is believed to have been hurt.

The spill has forced the closure of a pair of parks along the Fraser River.

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McDonald Beach Park in Richmond and Fraser River Park in Vancouver have both been closed.

The City of Richmond and the Vancouver Park Board say those actions are being taken “out of an abundance of caution.”

#UPDATE: Capsized tug boat spills 22,000 L of diesel in the north arm of the Fraser River.
2 additional tugs were on site early this morning to stabilize The George H. Ledcor.
Canadian Coast Guard has boomed the area around the vessel pic.twitter.com/UJWHWqa0R4
— Emily Lazatin (@EmilyLazatin) August 14, 2018