On Sunday 26/02/2012 Police received information stating that a drilling barge located south of the train bridge in the Leven River at Ulverstone was sinking and had chemicals on board.  

Police, Tas Fire, Central Coast Council, The Environmental Protection Agency, Ulverstone Surf Life Saving Club, The Australian Volunteer Coastal Patrol and persons associated with the drilling works attended and assisted at the scene.

Booms and spill mitigations have been put in place and a salvage effort to retrieve the partially submerged barge is currently underway.  

Police emphasise that the cause of the partial sinking is not yet known, however they would like any members of the public who believe they may have seen persons acting suspiciously in the vicinity of the barge either on Saturday 25 Feb 2012 or Sunday 26 Feb 2012 to contact Ulverstone Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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