Map indicates where tug ran aground north of Campbell River.

Map indicates where tug ran aground north of Campbell River.

U.S. barge runs aground north of Campbell River

At approximately 2 a.m. Tuesday morning, the Campbell River Coast Guard responded to an American barge that had run aground north of Campbell River.

The Ocean Eagle was carrying general cargo and was en route to Alaska when both it and the 100-foot tug towing it touched bottom, spurring the call to the Coast Guard.

According to officials at the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) in Victoria, the Campbell River Coast Guard responded to the incident, which happened near Chatham Point, and escorted the barge and tug to Menzies Bay for examination to determine the extent of the damage.

Five people were on board, but no one was hurt in the event.

The JRCC says there was no evidence of environmental pollution at the site of the grounding, but the extent of the damage will be determined during the examination of the vessels. The tug was carrying what is being called a “significant” amount of diesel.

 

Campbell River Mirror