HMCS Calgary Fuel Spill
Last updated on April 5, 2023DISCLAIMER: Information provided is based on reports received by Emergency Management B.C. Information provided is considered to be current at the time of posting, but is subject to change as new information becomes available.
Incident Description
| Incident Date | February 24th, 2018 |
|---|---|
| Name | HMCS Calgary Fuel Spill |
| Source | HMCS Calgary |
| Nearest Community | Parksville to Tsawassen |
| Spilled Content | F-76 naval distillate fuel |
| Who is involved? | Department of National Defense (DND), Emergency Management BC, Canadian Coast Guard, B.C. Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy. Transport Canada, Department of Fisheries & Oceans, Environment Canada |
Response Phase Detail
The responsible person or spiller is legally required to clean-up or manage the clean-up of a spill. In incidents where the responsible person is unknown, unable or unwilling to manage the clean up, the Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy (MOE) may assume the role. The updates below reflect the Ministry’s oversight of the spillers’ actions; details describe the spill response phase, only, and not the complete lifecycle of the spill. See More Information for other related reports.
Updates are in reverse chronological order, with the most recent at the top. Industry-specific language may be explained in the Glossary of Terms (PDF).
Most Recent Update
February 27, 2018 - 4:36 pm
The fuel spill from HMCS Calgary was initially reported as 30,000 L of F-76, a naval distillate fuel. The Department of National Defense (DND) updated this estimated volume to between 10,000 and 20,000 L. Shoreline observations were jointly conducted yesterday (February 26, 2018) by the Department of National Defense, Canadian Coast Guard and B.C. Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy. Two Environmental Emergency Response Officers (EEROs) were aboard DND vessels as they searched for signs of the fuel spill. No pollution was observed during field observations.
Transport Canada's National Aerial Surveillance Program (NASP) plane completed a second overflight yesterday as well. No pollution was observed during the overflight.
For the most up to date information on this incident, please follow Canada's Navy Army and Air Force in the Pacific on Twitter: @MARPAC_FMARP.
An Environmental Emergency Response Officer continues to monitor the incident and support federal agencies as necessary.
No further updates are anticipated.
February 25, 2018 - 8:25 pm
An estimated 30,000 L of fuel was released from HMCS Calgary between the hours of 3am and 8am on February 24, 2018 during a re-fueling operation. HMCS Calgary is a Halifax frigate with the Canadian Navy.
The spill was reported to have started near Parksville and ended approximately 100km southeast, just west of Tsawassen.
Transport Canada flight 951 flew the ship's route and surveyed potential impact areas and no sheen was observed.
Environment Canada developed a dispersion and trajectory model which indicated that there would likely be no impact to shorelines. Environment Canada calculations predicted a quick dispersion of the fuel due to sea conditions and the continuous movement of the vessel during the release.
The Department of National Defense had aircraft and resources in the area today and has organized several vessels to continue searching the sea and shoreline for signs of fuel tomorrow.
B.C. Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy has response staff participating in additional field observations tomorrow in coordination with the Department of National Defense and Canadian Coast Guard.
The next update will be provided when new information is available.