Oil spill from container ship causes slick near Vancouver’s English Bay

The Canadian Coast Guard says it’s working to comprise an oil spill from a container ship in Vancouver’s English Bay. 

In accordance with the coast guard, a pilot notified them of air pollution from a ship round 11:40 a.m. Saturday.

Officers say the spill originated from the container vessel MV Europe, with a slick seen from the air on the water near the Spanish Banks seashores.

Roughly 60 to 100 litres of gas has been launched into the water, in keeping with the coast guard, who’ve deployed a growth — a floating containment system — to restrict the unfold of the spill.

“We anticipate the gas has thinned and unfold out in a single day and we’re working at present to aggressively comprise the slick and take away as a lot as potential from the marine surroundings,” a Canadian Coast Guard spokesperson mentioned Sunday morning.

“The ship’s proprietor has additionally activated a response and has contracted the Western Canada Marine Response Company (WCMRC) to reply,” they added.

MV Europe is registered in Cyprus, in keeping with information, and was inbuilt 2004. It had left Prince Rupert on Jan. 13 and arrived in Vancouver on Jan. 15.

The WCMRC mentioned the coast guard was main the response to the oil spill, with the Metropolis of Vancouver additionally deferring to the group.

“As of dawn [Sunday] morning, there was no additional releases of gas from the MV Europe and we consider the scenario will stay secure, with no additional releases of gas into the marine surroundings,” the coast guard spokesperson mentioned.

“The Musqueam, Tsleil Waututh, Squamish, and Lyackson Nations are figuring out areas of cultural sensitivity in order that we will defend these areas if wanted,” they added.

CBC Information has reached out to the First Nations for this story.

English Bay extends from the downtown core of Vancouver to its northwest tip, together with the College of B.C. and the Level Gray neighbourhood. It’s typically the place container ships are moored earlier than heading to the Port of Vancouver to load or unload cargo.

The realm has seen spills earlier than, together with a 2015 spill that unfold to a number of seashores and harmed marine life.