# Kirby Tug Leaking Fuel After Running Aground in British Columbia **URL:** \ **Category:** Marine Incidents\ **Created:** [October 14, 2016, 4:28am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/kirby-tug-leaking-fuel-after-running-aground-in-british-columbia/16749 "2016-10-14T04:28:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2016, 6:44am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/kirby-tug-leaking-fuel-after-running-aground-in-british-columbia/16749/21 "2016-10-28T06:44:05Z")
[QUOTE=ombugge;191936]Looks like this grounding has started a discussion re: tanker safety and escort tugs in BC waters: [https://www.workboat.com/blogs/maritime-matters/39943-2/](https://www.workboat.com/blogs/maritime-matters/39943-2/) This fits in nicely with other threads were escort tugs are the subject of discussion right now.[/QUOTE] That’s a good looking rendering there. Would be such a thrill to be met with a beauty like that as you approach the dramatic home coast. I hope they go with that paint scheme. Robert Allen is a local firm, several of our iconic local vessels have been theirs: the sea bus, the very fancy bunkering barge I visited last week, some yachts. Shame they don’t build them here, anymore. ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2016, 9:16am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/kirby-tug-leaking-fuel-after-running-aground-in-british-columbia/16749/22 "2016-10-28T09:16:03Z")
[QUOTE=Emrobu;191939]That’s a good looking rendering there. Would be such a thrill to be met with a beauty like that as you approach the dramatic home coast. I hope they go with that paint scheme. Robert Allen is a local firm, several of our iconic local vessels have been theirs: the sea bus, the very fancy bunkering barge I visited last week, some yachts. Shame they don’t build them here, anymore.[/QUOTE] They are “world leader” in tug design. Tugs to their design is built world wide. (Except Canada maybe?) ---
**Author:** ![rshrew](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/rshrew/32/107_2.png) [@rshrew](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/rshrew)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2016, 2:36pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/kirby-tug-leaking-fuel-after-running-aground-in-british-columbia/16749/23 "2016-10-28T14:36:11Z")
> [@"ombugge"](#): > > They are “world leader” in tug design. Tugs to their design is built world wide. (Except Canada maybe?) Seaspan has a bunch of Robert Allen designed tugs as well as Oceàn group on the east coast of Canada ---
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2016, 4:42pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/kirby-tug-leaking-fuel-after-running-aground-in-british-columbia/16749/24 "2016-11-01T16:42:26Z")
Of course the Heiltsuk Nation should have sovereinty over their waters. Their requests are completely reasonable, given their position. This from gCaptain’s front page: > During Sunday’s meeting, Heiltsuk leaders laid out a list of key priorities for the federal government to address, which included long-term monitoring and assessment of the area, more equipment and training for better oil spill preparedness, and an immediate tanker ban ensuring that all oil tankers carrying crude from the Alberta Tar sands are banned from Heiltsuk waters. I have a couple of questions: all tankers, or just crude tankers who’s cargo originates in AB tar sands? Gas tankers, too? Given the uneducated hysteria that exists locally about the “dangers” of LNG tankers, I wouldn’t be surprised. There’s been a such giant hoopla for years around here about the possibility of LNG tankers in our waters that any excuse to ban them is going to be very popular. And I have a couple of points: in today’s news we see that the PM wants to help the economy by pooring a lot of money into infrastructure projects. Hey, I know an infrastructure project that could use some funding: safety plans, navigational support, and environmental spill response on the inside passage and the NW passage. How 'bout it? If we claim these waters, we had better be able to be stewards of them (and while we’re at it: stewards of our own economy). Also in today’s news: Canada’s economy starting to pick up because Fort Mac is coming back online after their terrible fire season. Fort Mac is a huge part of the national economy, and if we can’t export that tar sands oil, its going to take a metric-butt-tonne of infrastructure spending to make up for it. As Quebec will tell you, having an econmony based on goverment spending doesn’t work. Tanker traffic can be done safely. and one final point: F#&$ Kirby. ---
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 10:10am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/kirby-tug-leaking-fuel-after-running-aground-in-british-columbia/16749/25 "2016-11-05T10:10:26Z")
Just as a follow-up here: BC’s tanker ban was a campaign promise that the PM made, It has got everything to do with the prposed kinder morgan pipeline, and not much to do with this sunken tug. The Heilsuk were just using their moment in the spotlight to remind Justin, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![rshrew](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/rshrew/32/107_2.png) [@rshrew](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/rshrew)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 11:51pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/kirby-tug-leaking-fuel-after-running-aground-in-british-columbia/16749/26 "2016-11-05T23:51:41Z")
There has been a ton of money thrown into Kittamat for the LNG port is that still happening? ---
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2016, 8:27am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/kirby-tug-leaking-fuel-after-running-aground-in-british-columbia/16749/27 "2016-11-06T08:27:02Z")
[QUOTE=rshrew;192194]There has been a ton of money thrown into Kittamat for the LNG port is that still happening?[/QUOTE] I don’t know. And the crude pipeline might come to the Lower Mainland via the southern route. Its the main E-W artery, so its a much safer place to put a pipeline. If that happens they’re going to beef-up our local spill response abilities: ![](http://i.cbc.ca/1.3750696.1473208532!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_620/oil-spill-response.jpg) > **[Major oil spill response improvements planned for B.C.](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/wcmrc-oil-spill-response-improvements-planned-1.3750572)** > > The company responsible for cleaning up oil spills around Vancouver and B.C.'s South Coast has plans for major improvements to its facilities and spill response times pending the approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. The proposed location for the Kinder Morgan Terminal is on the Burrard Inlet near the exsisting Chevron facility. They’re proposing a response base right near by at New Brighton Park: which is needed, I feel. But they’re only going to build the new bases if the pipeline is built. On the one hand, we need the capability. On the other hand, I fear that emergency services for anything that isn’t the lower-mainland and and the southern part of the island will be forgotten about. Meaning this would have no impact at all on being able to respond to a situation like… oh lets just be imaginitive, say: a tug sinks and starts to leak fuel into someone’s food supply near Bella Bella. ---
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/kirby-tug-leaking-fuel-after-running-aground-in-british-columbia/16749/28 "2016-11-06T15:47:24Z")
[QUOTE=rshrew;192194]There has been a ton of money thrown into Kittamat for the LNG port is that still happening?[/QUOTE] I poked around to see if I could figure out what’s happening with Kitamat. I’m starting a new thread for it. ---
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2016, 10:28pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/kirby-tug-leaking-fuel-after-running-aground-in-british-columbia/16749/29 "2016-11-06T22:28:27Z")
Two items, hot off the press tonight. First: The Extra-Terrestrial Federal Transport Minister (I mean that with respect: being an astronaut is a good thing) is in Bella Bella talking to people. Those folks invited the PM to Bella Bella to announce the tanker ban. They also want to ban tug & barge. Not clear if they only want to ban ATBs, or what exactly. > “We’re mariners. We’ve been here for thousands and thousands of years — this is our life,” Slett said. > **['We cannot be a cautionary tale': Heiltsuk Nation warns Transport Canada...](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bella-bella-spill-marc-garneau-visit-1.3839351)** > > The Federal Minister of Transportation visited the northern B.C. town of Bella Bella Sunday, which has been battling a diesel spill from a tug that sank last month. Second, The PM is going to be in Vancouver tomorrow and he’s going to make an annoucment related to maritime safety. The provice apparently has made a list of 11 things that they would like. 1. A Coast Guard base in Prince Rupert 2. A monitoring system for marine traffic 3. A west coast marine training centre (and the name of my school was mentioned as a "centre for excellence in marine training) 4. 3 new salvage vessels with the capibility to get to a site within 3 hours 5. Clarification about the upcoming tanker ban 6. A “world-leading” spill response regime 7. A new helibase and helicopter for the hospital in Prince Rupert I don’t know what the other points are, but I feel like someone read my letter to Santa with these first 7 points. Merry Christmas, BC. > **[B.C. lays out West Coast spill response needs ahead of expected federal plan...](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-lays-out-west-coast-spill-response-needs-ahead-of-expected-federal-plan-1.3839233)** > > British Columbia's demands for a world-leading marine oil spill response has a long list of requirements. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to make an announcement with Transport Minister Marc Garneau at 3:50 p.m. ET and CBCNews.ca will... ---
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2016, 8:01am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/kirby-tug-leaking-fuel-after-running-aground-in-british-columbia/16749/30 "2016-11-07T08:01:53Z")
Another American tug and barge accident near Bella Bella last night. > **[Barge carrying sand and gravel flips near Bella Bella](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/barge-flips-inside-passage-bc-1.3839431)** > > A barge carrying sand and gravel flipped in British Columbia's Inside Passage Sunday evening, says the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre. ---
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2016, 7:41pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/kirby-tug-leaking-fuel-after-running-aground-in-british-columbia/16749/31 "2016-11-10T19:41:28Z")
Kirby and the local people are working together to get that tug moved over to a barge so that they can take her away. ![](http://i.cbc.ca/1.3845592.1478802012!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_620/nathan-b-stewart-bella-bella-tug-recovery.jpg) > **[Stormy weather still hampering tug salvage operation near Bella Bella](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/tug-recovery-bella-bella-1.3843812)** > > Four weeks after a tug ran aground and sank near Bella Bella, the salvage operation continues on the North Coast of B.C. ---
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2016, 1:56pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/kirby-tug-leaking-fuel-after-running-aground-in-british-columbia/16749/32 "2016-11-14T13:56:22Z")
The lifting gear is hooked on. Upsy-Daisy! > **[Tug that spilled 110K litres of fuel lifted from sea floor near Bella Bella](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/nathan-e-stewart-tug-recovery-bella-bella-1.3850271)** > > The grounding of the Nathan E. Stewart 32 days ago has refocused debate around marine-spill response capacity on the West Coast. ---
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2016, 5:06pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/kirby-tug-leaking-fuel-after-running-aground-in-british-columbia/16749/33 "2016-11-14T17:06:58Z")
The article contains recordings of parts of the radio conversations between Nathan E. Stewart and the Coast Guard, but no insight into why they missed their turn. > **[Inside the response to a sinking tug boat off B.C.’s coast](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/inside-the-response-to-a-tug-boat-sinking-off-bcs-northerncoast/article32672711/)** > > Audio recordings reveal how first responders struggled to get a clear picture of an unfolding disaster Wonder how they did with their lift today. Anybody hear? ---
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 7:52am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/kirby-tug-leaking-fuel-after-running-aground-in-british-columbia/16749/34 "2016-11-15T07:52:10Z")
She’s up! Some photots of the lift and a report of how it went: ![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CxR2Z_-WIAAPE80.jpg) ![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CxRmqr6UUAE2qKQ.jpg) [http://www.cknw.com/2016/11/14/nathan-e-stewart-tug-downed-near-bella-bella-removed-from-water-after-32-days/](http://www.cknw.com/2016/11/14/nathan-e-stewart-tug-downed-near-bella-bella-removed-from-water-after-32-days/) [Previous page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/kirby-tug-leaking-fuel-after-running-aground-in-british-columbia/16749.md?page=1)