Several marine groups responded to reports of a sinking boat off central Vancouver Island on July 11. A sheen was also reported.
According to the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), it first received a report of the sinking fishing vessel near Hocking Point in the Alberni Inlet around 3:15 a.m.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
The 10-metre gillnetter boat was fishing when the tide receded, stranding the boat on some rocks. The vessel then started to lean and sink.
The coast guard and local partners responded to the incident, with the coast guard’s Bamfield lifeboat being first to arrive at the scene.
No injuries have been reported, but a sheen was observed south of the vessel. While no sheen was seen around the vessel itself, crews have set up containment booms around the vessel as a precaution.
The vessel is considered to carry about 500 litres of diesel onboard.