Update: The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has closed the Esquimalt Harbour to fishing effective immediately due to the fuel spill.
Fuel Spill - As precautionary measure Esquimalt Harbour (Subarea 19-2 ) closed to all fishing effective immediately: https://t.co/Pvqzw3YDE6
— DFO Pacific (@DFO_Pacific) May 10, 2016
Original story: Crews are cleaning up a diesel fuel spill in Esquimalt after a barge was blown aground Monday morning.
The spud barge was moored in a small bay in the Esquimalt Harbour when strong winds broke it free, causing some of the 20,000 to 30,000 litres of fuel to spill.
It’s unclear how much diesel spilled into the water and a containment boom has been set up around the affected area.
Cleanup operations in the harbour and on the shoreline are now underway, with Western Canada Marine Response Corporation crews expected to work throughout the night.
The barge belongs to Vancouver Pile Driving, which is handling the spill response.
“We are very pleased to report the casualty has been contained with boom and is no longer leaking,” company spokesperson Kim Stanley said in a statement.
The spill occurred on or near Esquimalt Nation territory and members of the First Nation have been notified and are on hand to monitor the clean-up.
