A barge ran aground near North Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, according to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. The barge was carrying a load of sand and rock from Burrard Inlet, where dredging is underway, a statement posted to social media said. “The barge has now been stabilized and secured, with the dredged materials expected to be transferred to another barge shortly,” the statement said, adding that port operations are unaffected and no fuel leaks have been reported. Photos posted to social media show the barge in shallow water, partially capsized near the shore. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is dredging the Burrard Inlet under the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge to allow larger oil tankers and cargo vessels access to Vancouver’s port lands and the Trans Mountain pipeline export terminal. The project has been criticized by some environmentalists, experts and First Nations. With files from The Canadian Press
