UPDATE: Operation to remove grounded barges [PHOTOS]

We first brought you the story last night, of two barges that had run aground along the Dallas road shoreline. On Wednesday night around 8pm, in strong winds and rough seas, a tug boat lost control of two barges on route from the Victoria Coho terminal construction site to Sidney.

The crew of the tug boat safely made it to shore and the fueling dock, and no Coast Guard rescue operation was needed. Emergency services including Victoria Police, the Victoria Fire Department, the City of Victoria and Royal Canadian Marine Search & Rescue all responded to the incident. With strong winds, the salvage operation was postponed until after high tide Thursday morning.

One barge, was carrying a crane and fuel, and landed initially on Finlayson Point before drifting to the rocks below Olympia Avenue. Police today cordoned off the area above the site, as there was a potential danger of ropes and other materials falling on the Dallas road walkway as salvaging began. Crowds gathered on the Holland Point Shoreline to watch Seaspan, who took over the operation today.

Pumps were brought to the barge and water removed for several hours. Around 10:30am the barge was successfully towed back to Victoria.

The second much larger barge, carrying construction materials, had landed just below Cook Street. As of noon Thursday, it remained on the beach. City of Victoria crews were on site monitoring and have cordoned off the area as a safety precaution, once salvaging begins.

Although construction materials have fallen in and around the Cook street location, no oil pollution has been observed. As of Thursday afternoon containment booms have been placed around the remaining barge. Crews will reassess the area Friday morning.

All the vessels are owned and operated by Heavy Metal Marine who is bearing the full cost of the salvage operation.