Vancouver Park Board closed a nearby park after an overturned tugboat sparked fears of a fuel spill in the Fraser River.
Just after 10 p.m. Monday, the George H. Ledcor tug overturned and sank off Deering Island, in the Fraser River’s north arm just east of Iona Beach Regional Park. Four crew members aboard the 19-metre long tug were rescued, a spokesperson for the Canadian Coast Guard told the Richmond News.
As a precaution, Vancouver Park Board closed the beach at Fraser River Park Tuesday afternoon until further notice. The park is upstream from where the tugboat capsized.
The City of Richmond also closed the off-leash dog area at McDonald Beach Park because of fuel contamination in the area.
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 Canadian Coast Guard has 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 has also been secured. Canada Marine Response Corporation was also on site laying out absorbent pads.
In a tweet Tuesday afternoon, the park board said a faint fuel odour and sheen had been detected along the shore.
The beach at Fraser River Park is CLOSED after a tug carrying diesel fuel sank early this morning. We've detected a faint fuel odour and sheen along the shore and are closing the beach as a precaution as @CoastGuardCan continues to assess. @CityofVancouver pic.twitter.com/SICzOrFsj5
— Vancouver Park Board (@ParkBoard) August 14, 2018
With files from the Richmond News
@JessicaEKerr
jkerr@vancourier.com
