Loaded barge bound for Seattle sinking off central B.C. coast

By Canadian Press on November 19, 2025.

BELLA BELLA — A barge carrying numerous cargo containers is sinking in the waters off British Columbia’s central coast.

The Canadian Coast Guard says in a statement that the tug boat Malolo was en route from Alaska to Seattle when it reported Monday that the barge it was towing was taking on water.

The Coast Guard says divers hired by the tug owner are at the scene and trying to assess the why the barge is taking on water, and the Heiltsuk Nation’s marine emergency response team is also there.

The Heiltsuk Nation says in a statement that one side of the barge has been “compromised and continues to take on water, and the barge is being pumped to keep it afloat.”

Photos of the listing barge show more than 200 containers, stacked four and five high, along with some vehicles on top.

There are currently no signs of pollution from the sinking barge.

The Coast Guard says pollution response equipment is on standby in case it is needed for any cleanup.

The Heiltsuk statement says some poor weather is expected so the barge is to be moved to a safer location and a “precautionary boom” placed around it.

“Plans for a secondary tug and barge are in the works to come and remove weight from the current barge, but a timeline is not yet known,” the Heiltsuk statement says.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 19, 2025.

The Canadian Press