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Barge lost by tug towed to safety

The Canadian Coast Guard escorted the fuel barge "Zidell Marine 277" to shelter in the afternoon of Nov 27 in B.C.'s Hecate Strait, after two crew members of the tug "Jake Shearer" were forced to climb aboard and stay on their cargo overnight in rough waters. The U.S.-owned barge — carrying 3.5-million litres of diesel and 500,000 litres gasoline to Alaska, had detached from the tug amidst heavy winds and waves By 9 a.m. the next morning another commercial tug had arrived and hooked up a tow rope and headed north to Milbanke Sound; the area was chosen because it was more sheltered waters. The two crew members were forced to wait aboard overnight for towing help as they were required for the tow line hook up and anchor recovery, but also had shelter, food and necessary survival equipment on the barge. The tug maintained its average speed most of the weekend until around 3 p.m. on Nov 26 — when its speed dropped suddenly to a near-stop, then oscillated for nearly four hours just southwest of Gosling Rocks. After receiving a distress call, the Coast Guard dispatched two vessels which were on scene by 8:30 p.m. The tug and barge are owned by U.S.-based Harley Marine Services, which sent a second tug up from the U.S. to help. Nine agencies in total were involved in responding to the emergency, including Heiltsuk Nation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, B.C.'s environment ministry, and the privately owned Western Canada Marine Response Corporation.

Disabled tug had to disconnect from oil barge Zidell Marine 277

The "Jake Shearer" disconnected from the pushed 128-m-oil barge "Zidell Marine 277" in the afternoon of Nov 26, 2017, at 3.45 p.m. 1,6 kilometers south of Goose Island in the Queen Charlotte Sound off the coast of British Columbia, while en route to Alaska. The tug previously had suffered a power loss and had to disconnect from the barge. Two crew members managed to board the barge, which was anchored by tug’s crew near Hecate Strait rocks at 6.30 p.m. Locals alerted authorities fearing a possible grounding and oil spill, though there were no indications that a threat was imminent. The Coastguard vessels "Gordon Reid" and "Cape St. James" arrived on scene at 7.30 p.m. to attach a tow line. The barge was carrying 3.5 million litres of diesel along with 468,000 litres of gasoline. Meanwhile, two of three other tugs which were nearby when the barge broke free have been asked to assist. A plan is being devised to move the vessel once the tugs had arrived late on Nov 26 or early next morning, but weather with 45 knot winds was hampering efforts. Five vessels were sent from Prince Rupert the "Eagle Bay", the "Gill Sentinal", the "Kaien Sentinal", one workboat and one booms kit by the Western Canadian Marine Response Corporation, another vessel was dispatched from Vancouver Island to Port Hardy. The tug "Gulf Cajun" was preparing to take the barge under tow on Nov 27 after winds decreased to 37 km/h.