Tug Grounding, Chatham Channel

DISCLAIMER: Information provided is based on reports received by Emergency Management B.C. Information provided is considered to be current at the time of posting, but is subject to change as new information becomes available.

Incident Description

Incident Date	December 15, 2019
Name	Tug Grounding, Chatham Channel (DGIR:193163)
Source	Vessel
Nearest Community	Sayward, B.C.
Spilled Content	Diesel Fuel
Who is involved?	Canadian Coast Guard, Transport Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), B.C. Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy (ENV), Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC)

 

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Response Phase Detail

The responsible person or spiller is legally required to clean-up or manage the clean-up of a spill. In incidents where the responsible person is unknown, unable or unwilling to manage the clean up, the Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy (ENV) may assume the role. The updates below reflect the Ministry’s oversight of the spillers’ actions; details describe the spill response phase, only, and not the complete lifecycle of the spill. See More Information for other related reports. 

Updates are in reverse chronological order, with the most recent at the top. Industry-specific language may be explained in the Glossary of Terms (PDF).

Most Recent Update

December 15, 2019- 12:00 pm 

On December 15, 2019, a 25-foot tug boat, DD Catherwood, grounded in Chatham Channel, north of Sayward, B.C. On board fuel tank was punctured and diesel fuel was released into the environment. Sorbent booms and pads were deployed to mitigate the pollution risk. The compromised fuel tank has been pumped into a holding tank on a barge and no further contents are being spilled into the environment. The vessel is being towed to Beaver Cove under escort by a Canadian Coast Guard vessel.

Further updates will be provided when new information is available.