Tugboat runs aground in same B.C. waterway where 2 killed earlier this year
Global News
Irvin Joseph said he suffered a neck injury as his tug's captain worked to prevent a barge from running aground in the same area another tug sank, killing two, in February.
Transport Canada and WorkSafeBC are investigating after a worker says he was injured in a tugboat accident on a vessel travelling through the Gardner Canal this week.
Irvin Joseph was serving as a deck hand on the tug Cadal on Nov. 2, hauling a barge from Kitimat to Kemano.
The crew was eating dinner around 7 p.m. and another deckhand was on watch when the Wainright Marine tugboat ran aground at Rix Island in the Gardner Canal.
“He looked up and noticed that we were headed right for the beach,” Joseph said.
“It’s definitely a scary moment, that’s for sure.”
The tug’s captain was able to reverse the vessel, then used it to ram the barge it was towing to prevent it from also running aground, Joseph said.
“He hit it pretty hard and I tightened up pretty good. I believe this is where my injury came from,” he said, explaining he’s since sought treatment for severe neck pain.
The crew checked the vessel over to ensure it wasn’t taking on water, then completed their run to Kemano.