A tubgoat that sank in the Fraser River on Tuesday has been re-floated but remains in place on Thursday evening.
The George H. Ledcor capsized off Deering Island between midnight and 1 a.m. on Tuesday. It remains unclear what caused the boat to sink.
Crews worked throughout Wednesday to salvage it but weren’t able to get the boat up to the water line until Thursday afternoon.
WATCH: Efforts to remove sunken tug from the Fraser River continue
“Water inside the tug is being pumped into barges for appropriate disposal at facilities authorized to receive it,” said environmental response Deputy Superintendent Tim McCann with the Canadian Coast Guard.
“Pollution containment equipment, absorbent material and recovery equipment have been used and will remain in place until the tug is towed to Arrow Shipyards for removal from the marine environment.”
McCann said the operation was taking longer than anticipated because of concerns about safety and environmental protection.
The tugboat had a fuel capacity of 22,000 litres but the vessel’s owners, Ledcor, have not confirmed how much was aboard.
It also remains unclear how much leaked into the river.
WATCH: Capsized tugboat to be pulled from the Fraser River
“Right now we’re still trying to determine how much diesel fuel was released,” said Ministry of Environment spokesperson Ken Meeks.
Meeks said shoreline cleanup teams are now evaluating the riverbanks to try and determine where diesel sheen has washed up.
He said diesel thins into a sheen once it hits the water and much of it evaporates, though some of it degrades through contact with sediments.
READ MORE: Tugboat carrying large fuel tank sinks in Fraser River
“There will be some ongoing assessments with sampling to come to evaluate if further remedial work is necessary,” he said.
Officials say they are hoping to have the tugboat towed to Arrow Shipyards by the end of Thursday.
An investigation into how the tugboat sank is ongoing.
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