A container barge being towed by a tugboat ran aground onto Quadra Island Saturday night, the Canadian Coast Guard confirms.
A Coast Guard spokesperson said the barge connected to the U.S.-registered tugboat “Polar King” ran around just before 8 p.m. on the southwest coast of the island between Quathiaski Cove and Yaculta.
The Coast Guard confirms six people were aboard the tug but none were injured. The tug itself is intact and not damaged, and did not run aground itself.
The spokesperson also said there is no sign of pollution in the water or on the beach. The barge was carrying rail cars and containers on the deck, she added, with no cargo in the hull.
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The Coast Guard later confirmed Sunday evening there was damage to the barge’s hull, which was found in the afternoon after an attempt to dislodge the barge.
That attempt was called off, and crews plan to reassess the situation Monday morning.
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On Monday, Transport Canada said a plan was being put together to refloat the barge, but the Coast Guard said the vessel will remain in place until at least Tuesday morning.
Transport Canada said the barge will be towed to Middle Point north of the Campbell River mill once it’s refloated to assess the damage and make repairs as needed.
According to MarineTraffic data, the tug was headed from its home port of Seattle to Whittier, Alaska, where it was expected to arrive on Nov. 15.
A local resident, Nick Templeman, told Global News the tug appeared to lose control before it ran aground.
Another resident, Lucas Chickite, said he heard loud noises coming from the grounded barge in the early morning hours that sounded like dynamite going off.
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