Sunken Vessel Bligh Island
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 | December 4, 2020 |
|---|---|
| Name | Sunken Vessel Bligh Island (DGIR: 203178) |
| Source | Historical Shipwreck Near Bligh Island |
| Nearest Community | Gold River |
| Spilled Content | Fuel/Oil |
| Who is involved? | B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV), Emergency Management B.C.(EMBC), Canadian Coast Guard, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Mowachaht/Muchalaht, Hesquiaht, Ehattesaht Chinehkint First Nations, and the Nuu Chah Nulth Tribal Council |
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 B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV) 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
July 13, 2021 - 9:29 am
On June 15th, Resolve Marine began removing bulk oil from the MV Schiedyk. On-water crews, wildlife deterrents and shoreline and sensitive area containment boom was in place during all aspects of the operation. Four bulk fuel tanks were successfully pumped out, eliminating the risk of approximately 60 tonnes of fuel from reaching the marine environment. Boaters may continue to see small amounts of non-recoverable fuel in the area due to tidal currents disturbing areas of the ship, such as the engine room.
Response crews and the virtual incident command system is currently demobilizing.
For more up to date and detailed information, please follow http://www.spillresponsebc.ca
June 10, 2021 - 3:45 pm
Unified response efforts between the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV), Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), and the Mowachaht/ Muchulaht First Nation continue for this incident.
Upwelling of fuel continues at site with response crews containing and recovering product. As of June 9, 2021 Resolve Marine Group has been contracted to remove the remaining bulk oil in the vessel. It is anticipated work will commence in mid June and is expected to take several weeks, depending on weather.
Wildlife monitoring continues as do efforts to deter any from entering the incident area
For more up to date and detailed information, please follow http://www.spillresponsebc.ca
February 22, 2021 - 4:00 pm
Unified response efforts between the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV), Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), and the Mowachaht/ Muchulaht First Nation continue for this incident. Shoreline surveys were recently conducted south of the wreck site with no sightings of oiled birds being reported.
For the most up to date information, please follow http://www.spillresponsebc.ca/
January 11, 2021 - 1:36 pm
Unified response efforts between the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV), Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), and the Mowachaht/ Muchulaht First Nation continue for this incident. The oil type and quantity have not yet been confirmed and samples have been sent to laboratories for testing. In-field operations are on-going, including the implementation of protection booming to protect ecologically sensitive areas and assist with containment. Marine mammal and wildlife assessments continue.
Detailed information regarding this incident is shared through http://www.spillresponsebc.ca/
January 4, 2021 - 3:30 pm
Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) continues to lead on-water operations on site, weather permitting.
The B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy continues to work closely with its partners and stakeholders on the incident.
For the most up to date information, please follow: Spill Response BC.
December 15, 2020 - 4:30 pm
The virtual Incident Command Post (ICP) and on-water crews continue to respond to the shipwreck leak. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV) is participating in the response through a unified command structure with the Canadian Coast Guard and Mowachaht/ Muchalaht First Nation.
There is a slow but continual discharge of oil pollution coming from the MV Schiedyk. While the quantity of oil on water continues to be minimal, there are negative impacts to the marine environment, including impacts to wildlife. To date, there have been observations of oiled wildlife, including one sea otter and one Great Blue Heron. A second, deceased sea otter has also been found in the area and a necropsy is being performed to determine if the cause of death was related to oil exposure or natural causes.
A wildlife branch was set up to observe, recover and rehabilitate impacted wildlife and a Wildlife Response Plan has been developed. There is now 16,000 feet of boom protecting areas of ecological, socio-economic and cultural sensitivity.
Photos and other information can be found at: Spill Response BC
December 11, 2020 - 5:30 pm
Unified Command (UC) continues to manage the incident virtually with representatives from the Canadian Coast Guard, B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV) and Mowachaht-Muchalaht First Nation.
Information regarding this incident will continue to be shared through the http://www.spillresponsebc.ca/ web page and will be continually updated throughout the response.
Canadian Coast Guard and Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) continued on-water boom and containment operations today. Scanning of the wreck was concluded and a naval architect has been contracted to help as a technical specialist. B.C. ENV staff working in the Environmental Unit of the virtual Incident Command Post (ICP) have contributed to the completion of the Wildlife Management Plan and are helping to develop the Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique Plan, Waste Management Plan, and Sampling Plan.
Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.
December 11, 2020 - 11:00 am
As there is no responsible person identified for this spill, the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV) has entered into Unified Command with the Canadian Coast Guard and Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation.
Please see the following statement on behalf of Unified Command regarding the sunken vessel near Bligh Island.
http://www.spillresponsebc.ca/2020/12/09/statement-from-unified-command/