Bunker Fuel Spill in Vancouver's English Bay

The Canadian Coast Guard is leading a cleanup operation to contain an oil spill in Vancouver’s English Bay. According to several reports, one ton of oil has been recovered as of Thursday morning.

The spill is believed to be bunker fuel that has leaked from the Cyprus-flagged bulk carrier Marathassa, thought to be owned by Greece-based Alassia NewShips Management.

Oil was first spotted in the water on Wednesday evening, although the size and scope of the spill have yet to be determined.

“Just after 5:00 pm April 8, Port Metro Vancouver's Operations Center received multiple reports of an oily sheen on the water in English Bay. Our harbor patrol crew responded to investigate and confirmed the situation,” said a media advisory issued by Port Metro Vancouver.

According to CBC News, Vancouver Counsellor Geoff Meggs has complained that Port Metro Vancouver took 13 hours to inform the city of the spill. “We will want to find out more about the gap between the spill itself and the notification of our city resources,” he said.

Crews from the West Coast Marine Response Corporation and Coast Guard are using skimmers to try to recover the heavier oil surrounding the ship, and a boom has been put in place around the Marathassa.

The Vancouver Aquarium's Marine Mammal Rescue Centre is on standby. Dr Peter Ross, ocean pollution expert at the aquarium, says there are endangered species such as southern resident killer whales that could enter the bay. Ross said there are 25 species of fish and seabirds that could be at risk from the spill.

Image courtesy of Chad Dey (@chad_dey)

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