The Vancouver Park Board closed a nearby beach Tuesday afternoon after a tug boat flipped and sank early this morning in the Fraser River.
According to BC Spill Response, the George H. Ledcor, which capsized near Deering Island, could have been carrying up to 22,000 litres of diesel.
The Canadian Coast Guard has deployed booms around the vessel, and two more tug boats were sent out to help stabilize.
Western Canada Marine Response Corporation, which responds to marine spills on the B.C. coast, was also dispatched and has set up absorbent pads.
The park board closed the Fraser River Park beach after they noticed “a faint fuel odour and sheen along the shore.”
In a social media post, Ledcor Group said it has begun recovery operations and expects to raise the tugboat on Wednesday.
“Divers and a salvage crane are on site at the North Arm of the Fraser River. Spill containment booms are still deployed,” the tweet read.
The vessel is one of nine tugboats owned by Ledcor Group.
WCMRC was deployed last night to the capsized tug boat, the George H. Ledcor, in the north arm of the #FraserRiver. We have deployed and recovered sorbent pads and are now standing by on scene. @SpillsInfoBC @CoastGuardCAN
— WCMRC (@MarineResponse) August 14, 2018
Staff from the City of Vancouver’s environmental team and the Ministry of Environment were also on scene.
It’s not yet clear what caused the boat to flip.
