Rough weather damages booms, spreads diesel spill from sunken tug

BELLA BELLA — Heavy weather conditions are causing a diesel spill from a sunken tugboat to spread in the waters off B.C.’s central coast.

Kirby Offshore Marine, which owns the tug, said the booms that were containing the spill have been compromised due to high winds and three-metre waves.

A situation report said response crews who were forced to stand down on Friday were again put on hold on Saturday.

A Kirby spokeswoman said crews are working to replace the booms, and it remains unclear how much fuel spilled into the open water as result of the storm.

Heiltsuk Chief Marilyn Slett questioned why more seaworthy booms weren’t installed immediately after the initial spill.

The Nathan E. Stewart tug ran aground on Oct. 13, about 20 kilometres west of Bella Bella. Less than half of the 200,000 litres of fuel the vessel was carrying has been recovered.