Salvage crews in BC race to remove fuel from leaking tug

Yellow Boom Surrounds The Nathan E Stewart A Tug Barge Com

(BELLA BELLA, British Columbia) — Salvage crews removing diesel fuel from a sunken tugboat are racing a storm that is expected to hit the region Wednesday, the Vancouver Sun reported. Divers began the operation late Monday afternoon by connecting equipment to tanks aboard Nathan E. Stewart, which ran aground Thursday at the mouth of Seaforth Channel and began leaking fuel. The tug had up 50,000 gallons on board. Federal officials also announced that an exemption had been suspended which allowed Nathan E. Stewart to operate without a pilot in Seaforth Channel, with the suspension applying to all vessels operated by tug owner Kirby Corp.

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By Professional Mariner Staff