Please select your home edition
Edition
Cure Marine - Cure 55 - LEADERBOARD

Bella Bella, B.C. oil spill likely caused by sleeping crew on tugboat: Report

by huffingtonpost.ca 9 Dec 2017 16:07 UTC
Oil is seen on the water in Seaforth Channel following an oil spill near Bella Bella, B.C., in this undated handout photo © Heiltsuk First Nation via Canadian Press

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board says the second mate of a tugboat fell asleep before it ran aground off the coast of British Columbia last year and spilled thousands of litres of fuel.

The American safety agency says records show the second mate relieved the captain of watch duty and missed a scheduled change of course for the Nathan E. Stewart before the articulated tug and barge crashed near Bella Bella on Oct. 13, 2016. The board's report dated Nov. 21 says the second mate told investigators he missed the change of course because he had fallen asleep, which it says is the probable cause of the vessel running aground.

The vessel, owned by Houston-based Kirby Offshore Marine, was en route to the Port of Vancouver with an empty barge when it ran aground and partially sank in the Seaforth Channel.

Read the full article here

Related Articles

U.S. icebreaker completes Antarctica operation
The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star completed their mission The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star completed their mission Tuesday in support of NSF after cutting a resupply channel through 15 miles of Antarctic ice in the Ross Sea and escorting supply vessels to the continent. Posted on 10 Feb 2018
Coast Guard repositions buoy
Clearing a path for large commercial ships on Providence River Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Bristol towed a buoy that was blocking a portion of the Providence River shipping channel back to its proper position using a Buoy Utility Stern Loading (BUSL) boat, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018. Posted on 11 Jan 2018
Coast Guard prepares for powerful winter storm
Coast Guard units across the Northeast are gearing up as a powerful winter storm Coast Guard units across the Northeast are gearing up as a powerful winter storm with damaging winds, snowfall, and potential for coastal flooding is expected to impact our area Thursday. Posted on 4 Jan 2018
US Navy Sextant Decision wise for anyone offshore
US Navy reintroduce training in celestial navigation The US Navy reinstituted training in celestial navigation and sextant use due, in part, to concerns over intentionally jammed GPS satellite signals. Posted on 4 Jan 2018
Coast Guard kicks off ice breaking season
Coast Guard will conduct ice breaking operations for several reasons Operation Reliable Energy for Northeast Winters (RENEW) is the Coast Guard's region-wide effort to ensure Northeast communities have the security, supplies, energy, and emergency resources they need throughout the winter. Posted on 18 Dec 2017
Cruiser dies after dinghy accident
His companion yelled for assistance and nearby cruisers arrived quickly The Coast Guard was summoned and arrived after 15-20 minutes and stabilized and transported the man to shore. A private ambulance was called but failed to arrive so after 30 minutes the victim was taken by the Coast Guard to the public hospital Posted on 12 Dec 2017
Coast Guard mitigates pollution threat
1,968 displaced vessels have been removed from Florida waterways The Unified Command for the response—officially titled Emergency Support Function 10 (ESF-10) Florida—consists of leaders from the U.S. Coast Guard, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Posted on 2 Dec 2017
2024 fill-in (bottom)North Sails Performance 2023 - FOOTERStoneways Marine 2021 - FOOTER