Accident lands 2 turbines and transporter in Saint John Harbour

An accident at Saint John Harbour late Wednesday morning has left two turbines and a transporter vehicle soaking in 30 feet of salt water.

A spokeswoman for the Irving companyhired to sail the two turbines to NB Power's Point Lepreau Generating Station, said initial reports thatthe bargeflipped after the turbines, weighing 107 tonnes each, were placed on it, were incorrect.

Mary Keith, of Irving Equipment, said all of the equipment was on the barge before itslipped into the water atapproximately 11:30 a.m.

Theearlier reports camefrom officials at the Port of Saint John who said the barge flipped as the second turbine was being loaded onto the barge.

"There are booms that have been established as a precautionary measure to contain some of the debris and some of the, potentially, the fuel that would have been in one of the transporters and the transporter that is currently under water," Keith told CBC News Wednesday.

Keith said Irving Equipment has launched its own investigation as to how the turbines and the transporter, a long flatbed-like vehicle, slipped off the barge.

Ship Safety and Workplace Health and Safety have also launched an investigation into the accident.

No one was injured in the incident.

Keith said recovery of the turbines and the transporter is currently underway.

The turbines were to be installed in the refurbished Point Lepreaunuclear reactor but NB Power spokesperson Heather MacLean said their loss will not affect thebillion-dollar project.