An environmental damage has caused massive worry on Thursday to the Nations located on the Central coast of British Columbia. The concern was raised after a tugboat with nearly 200,000 litres of diesel ran aground near Bella Bella. The boat was en-route to Alaska.
The tug boat Nathan E. Stewart and the empty fuel barge DBL 55 collided on the Edge Reef, in Seaforth Channel near Athlone Island. The area is classified as an environmentally sensitive Great Bear rainforest. The fuel barge was reportedly empty but the tug was leaking diesel.
The tug and barge are owned by the U.S. Company Kirby Offshore Marine. It said the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation has deployed vessels and crew from a base in Prince Rupert several hundred kilometres away.
Jim Guidry, Kirby’s incident commander said, “A mobile skimming vessel, boom skiff, work boat, and tug, along with a total of 2,500 feet of boom, have been deployed to the scene. Owners and managers of the Nathan E. Stewart regret that this incident has occurred and are working to respond and mitigate the impact”.
Later in the day, Guirdy issued another statement, saying the tug boat had nearly 200,000 litres of diesel fuel when it began its voyage and that resources to meet “a worst possible discharge” had been activated. He further said, “A priority for the response will be developing a plan to remove all diesel aboard the tug and to safely salvage the vessel”.
Members of the Heiltsuk Nation responded to the scene, along with the Canadian Coast Guard, and currently in the process of monitoring the environmental effects of the spill. It was reported that three fuel tanks on the tug had been compromised and that the vessel had sunk.
Jess Housty, Heiltsuk tribal councillor said, “Things don’t sound promising from the chatter we are hearing on the radio”.
The Coast Guard has confirmed that the tug has sunk but said it is still connected to the barge, which is stable.
Michelle Imbeau, Coast Guard spokeswoman said in an email, “The tug is submerged and leaking some diesel, which is expected to dissipate and break-up”.
Effects of fuel spill:
According to the Heiltsuk, the diesel spill threatens dozens of species that are reaped in the area, including manila clam beds that provide an income of up to $150,000 per year for the community.
Marilyn Slett, Chief Councillor for the Heiltsuk Tribal Council said, “It’s a significant part of our local winter economy. That clam fishery was due to open in about three weeks”. He expressed that nearby Gitga’at Nation is still unable to harvest seaweed and clams because of the pollution from the sinking of the Queen of the North ferry a decade ago.
Seven people on board the tug at the time of the grounding were rescued safely and no injuries were reported. An Investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident and to initiate necessary clean up operations.
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Source: CBC
