SITUATION:

Tug Westview Chinook was assisting the 63′ George H Ledcor tug and its loaded gravel barge in the North Arm of the Fraser River. The barge Girded the Ledcor tug putting 4 crew in the water. The Westview Chinook recovered all 4 crew and secured the tug alongside at the Sea Island Barge tie-up. Initial booming was conducted, and the responsible party arranged for a Rig and Scow to right the Vessel. WCMRC was tasked and is staged at MacDonald Beach. The Vessel is currently capsized, submerged with approximately 22,000 liters of diesel onboard and is secured to the barge/piles. Vessel has containment boom around the downstream side of the vessel, which is collecting upwelling fuel. Fraser River Pile & Dredge (FRPD) are contracted to provide barge and crane, along with Hydra Marine divers to salvage the vessel. FRPD along with a barge/crane and heavy lift crane Arctic Tuk are on scene. The righting of the vessel has commenced. WCMR and CCG remain on scene maintaining effective booming operations at the wreck site as well as deflection booming downstream.

UNIFIED COMMAND:

  • First Nation Incident Commander – Morgan Guerin
  • Federal Incident Commander – Philip Murdock
  • Provincial Incident Commander – Ken Meeks
  • Municipal Incident Commander – Chad Paulin
  • Responsible Party Incident Commander – Mark McElligott

PRIORITIES / OBJECTIVES:

  • Ensure safety of responders and the public.
  • Manage a coordinated response.
  • Minimize the risk of release of pollutants,
  • Maximize protection of sensitive areas (biological, cultural, economic and socio-economic).
  • Contain, recover and dispose of spilled product.
  • Monitor for impacts on the environment.
  • Ensure timely and effective communication of incident partners, stakeholders, public, and senior managers.

ACTIONS TAKEN:

  • Protection booms remain at Musqueam Slough.
  • Fraser River Park, McDonald Beach dog park and boat launch remain closed until further notice.
  • Righting of the tug started at 1100.
  • Prior to the lift, there was a site meeting between the operations personnel to discuss safety issues and mitigation measures to prevent a loss of containment.including additional vessels, personnel and equipment.
  • To mitigate loss of product during salvage operations, WCMRC has increased on-water capacity

CURRENT ACTIONS:

  • WCMRC and Coast Guard remain on scene to recover product and maintain effective booming containment.
  • FRPD and divers on scene to assist with rigging adjustments.
  • Righting of the tug has begun, teams are working slowly to conduct a safe salvage operation.
  • Once the vessel is stable and buoyant, it will be towed under escort to Arrow Shipyard on Mitchell Isl.
  • Aerial observation will resume this afternoon. CCG helicopter has been delayed until 1430.
  • SCAT teams have been deployed on the north and south side of the river.
  • A vac truck will be sent to the site if the skimming vessel reaches their internal capacity and needs to transfer that recovered oily water into alternate storage.
  • Waste management plan completed.
  • Media update conducted by Unified Command at 1430.

NEXT 24 HOURS:

  • Divers may have to adjust the rigging multiple times before the tug is fully upright.
  • Tug will need to be re-rigged during the pumping sequence – forward, aft, and then last will be engine room.

WEATHER AND TIDES:

  • Winds NW 8kts
    • Wind becoming southeast 5 to 15 late overnight.
  • Ebb Tide. Low tide @ 1500 PDT – at a depth of 1 meters
  • Approx. 2 kts current in ebb direction

SAFETY:

Safety is a priority during the critical lifting and salvage operations and will be discussed in detail on site before operations begin and throughout the process.

  • City of Richmond reports a member patrolling at MacDonald dog park who sought medical attention after feeling some physical effects from fumes (headache/nausea) and was subsequently sent home to rest.
  • WCMRC Crews have gas monitors on them as well as each SCAT team.

INCIDENT COMMAND POST:

The ICP continues to operate out of the Musqueam Hall at 6615 Salish Drive.

AGENCIES INVOLVED:

  • Canadian Coast Guard” Canadian Coast Guard
  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada
  • Musqueam First Nation
  • BC Ministry of Environment
  • Environment Climate Change Canada
  • Transport Canada
  • Transportation Safety Board
  • City of Vancouver
  • Port Metro Vancouver
  • City of Richmond
  • Ledcor
  • Canadian Wildlife Service
  • Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
  • WCMRC
  • EMBC
  • Tsleil-Waututh First Nation
  • First Nations Health Authority