BELLA BELLA - A barge that began sinking off the central coast of British Columbia has been relocated to a safer area, and plans are in place to remove its cargo containers. The Heiltsuk Nation announced that after discussions with Transport Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, and the barge operator Alaska Marine Lines, federal authorities have approved a salvage operation to extract 25 containers from the vessel.

The removal process is set to start today and is expected to take up to five hours. Crews will pause overnight to reassess the situation on Friday. Previously, the Heiltsuk Nation indicated that high winds had delayed the container removal.

The next steps in the salvage operation, including the transportation of the barge to Seattle, will require further planning and approval from both Transport Canada and U.S. authorities. The barge was being towed by the tug Malolo when it began taking on water during its journey from Alaska to Seattle. Images from the scene showed the barge listing significantly.

Marine emergency responders from the Heiltsuk Nation confirmed that the barge is compromised. Efforts to pump water out of the vessel were halted to avoid disturbing air pockets that are currently keeping it afloat.

This incident has raised concerns among Heiltsuk leaders regarding the need for enhanced marine emergency response capabilities along the B.C. coast. They emphasized that the situation underscores the potential challenges the system may face if oil tankers are permitted in northern and central coastal waters. This response follows reports that the federal government is contemplating lifting a tanker ban in northern B.C. as part of discussions with Alberta regarding a proposed new oil pipeline.

This report was first published on November 20, 2025.