Barge tips, vehicles fall into Victoria harbor

Published 12:01 am Sunday, August 30, 2015

By The Associated Press

VICTORIA — A barge tipped in Victoria’s harbor, dumping as many as 20 vehicles into the water on Friday.

British Columbia’s Ministry of Environment said the barge was being loaded by metal recycling company Schnitzer Steel in an area of the harbor just north of the city’s downtown core.

Booms were put in the water to contain any pollution, and the ministry said the coast guard, Transport Canada, police, fire and harbor master were on the scene.

The ministry said Transport Canada indicated that the vehicles were cleaned of fuel before being loaded onto the barge.

Seaspan is the barge owner, and the ministry said it will be responsible for retrieving the vehicles and all cleanup costs.