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Fuel spill feared after tugboat sinks in Fraser River

The George H. Ledcor tug capsized in the north arm of the Fraser River just north of Sea Island.
Deering Island tug capsized
A tugboat capsized just off Deering Island in the north arm of the Fraser River Tuesday morning. The boat's fuel tank has a capacity to carry 22,000 litres of diesel, and it's unknown whether any has spilled into the river. Image: Google Maps

Efforts to salvage a tugboat that capsized in the Fraser River and spilled an unknown amount of diesel fuel have closed a park in Richmond.

The George H. Ledcor tug overturned around 10 p.m. Monday off of Deering Island, just west of Iona Beach Park in the north arm of the Fraser. The submerged boat quickly ignited fears of a possible fuel spill.

The vessel has a large fuel tank, capable of carrying 22,000 litres of diesel. According to the Coast Guard, it’s not yet known how much fuel spilled from the tank. Crews are assessing the situation.

The City of Richmond closed the off-leash dog area at McDonald Beach Park on Tuesday morning because of fuel contamination in the area. In the afternoon, the city moved to close the entire park, including the boat launch, to make it easier for the Coast Guard and other agencies helping to salvage the sunken boat.

“It’s as much about the odour and the fumes as it is the contamination,” said Ted Townsend, director of communications and marketing for the city.
“A [park] caretaker was feeling the effects of the fumes, and we felt it was best to keep everybody away.”
 

Kiri Westnedge, a spokesperson for the Canadian Coast Guard, told the Richmond News Tuesday afternoon that diving crews were in the water plugging vents in the sunken tug and coming up with a plan to rig the boat to two heavy-duty marine cranes. They plan to haul it out of the water Wednesday morning.

Four crew members aboard the 19-metre long tug were rescued Monday night, Westnedge added.

Initially, the Coast Guard boomed the area around the sunken boat and brought in two more tugs to help stabilize the George H. Ledcor. The barge the tug was carrying was also secured. Canada Marine Response Corporation was on site laying out absorbent pads as well. 

The City of Vancouver also tweeted its concern, saying “there’s a potential for a significant amount of fuel to have been released.”