A 110-foot-long barge equipped with a crane sank in Christie Passage off Hurst Island north of Port Hardy on Monday.
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A spokesperson for the coast guard said the barge was fully submerged by Monday and had sunk 337 metres to the ocean floor, where it does not pose a risk to the public or navigation.
The coast guard said minimal fuel sheen was observed at the time of the sinking and crews worked with the barge’s owners to protect the surrounding marine environment.
No injuries were reported.
The coast guard said some debris that had been on the barge at the time of sinking was floating on the surface and recovered by the owner and removed to Central Coast Marine Services’ facility in Port Hardy.
The coast guard completed a flyover of the sinking site on Wednesday and said no additional debris or signs of pollution were observed.
“The Canadian Coast Guard does not conduct investigations, however, Transport Canada may choose to do an investigation,” a statement said.
Central Coast Marine Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.
On its website, it says it transports essential goods and equipment along the central coast and offers scheduled and custom freight and fuel-tanker shipping, tug and barge services, salvage and emergency response.
