Barge flips, sinks, weeks after tug ran aground along central coast

The Heiltsuk Nation says a barge has flipped and sunk north of the site where a tug that ran aground last month still awaits removal.

A news release from the First Nation says the barge, which was carrying gravel and sand from Seattle to Alaska, flipped Sunday evening in a channel along the central coast.

The 37-metre tugboat that was towing the barge was still afloat Sunday night, and the four crew members were safe.

A Canadian Coast Guard spokesperson says the tug has been granted permission from Transport Canada to continue its journey north to Alaska while crews remain at the scene of the sunken 65-metre barge. The sinking comes less than four weeks after the tugboat Nathan E. Stewart ran aground near Bella Bella, spilling diesel fuel into the water.

Sunday’s incident happened near Klemtu, about 55 kilometres north of Bella Bella.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Vancouver on Monday to announce funding for $1.5 billion in coastal protection measures. The federal plan includes improving responses to spills along the West Coast by increasing towing capacity and adding lifeboat stations.

Heiltsuk member Jess Housty, who is part of the diesel spill response team, says that with two incidents involving sinking vessels, Trudeau’s promised regulatory changes can’t come soon enough.