Salvage operations begin for sunken barge

Divers were onsite today as salvage operations began at the Government Dock for a sunken dredging barge.

The barge, owned by Purvis Marine Ltd., began sinking Wednesday night.

It is currently completely submerged at the end of the dock, with only its crane above water.

Company president Jack Purvis offered little information, indicating only that salvage operations had started.

Purvis called the local fire department at 9:42 p.m. on Wednesday to advise them that his barge was sinking and to request their help.

The City of Sault Ste. Marie was asked to supply a number of pumps but they were not used, and instead initial efforts were concentrated on bringing in a crane and removing a Payloader from the barge.

When fire officials returned to the scene early Thursday morning, they found the barge completely submerged.

The Canadian and U.S. Coast Guards were both advised of the situation but determined there was little they could do.

The Ontario Ministry of the Environment was also notified.

Oil-containment booms were set up around the site, but little oil was observed leaking from the barge.

The story broke on MCTV's suppertime news program on Thursday. The station learned of the sinking through a routine call to the Sault fire department.

In recent months, the TV station's local coverage has been widely criticized, but the story appears nowhere in the Friday edition of the Sault Star, and SooToday heard no reference to the barge during its sweep of early-morning radio newscasts.