Half-century-old shipwreck leaking oil into B.C. marine park now cleaned, coast guard says

A half-century oldshipwreckleaking oil into one of B.C.'s most pristine natural coastal areas since at least last December has now had any residual oil in its hull cleaned out and is stable, according to the Canadian Coast Guard.

In a written statement Monday, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Bernadette Jordan saidapproximately 60 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and diesel sitting in the hull of the MV Schiedyksince Jan. 3, 1968 was successfully removed from the hull.

The 147-metre cargo ship still restson the ocean flooron the east side of Bligh Island, inan ecologically sensitive marine park area about 70 kilometres northwest of Tofino, B.C.

On that day more than 50 years ago, the MV Schiedyk hitan underwater ledge thendrifted east and sank to a depth of 120 metres into theZuciarte Channel.

All 34 crew members abandoned shipand, at the time, oil was observedleaking into the ocean. Officials never figured outhow much heavy oil and fuel had leaked out.

In December2020, after severalreports of a stubborn,persist oil sheenon the marine park ocean surface, crews rushed in to find the source.

"Due to the depth of the MVSchiedyk, [crews]used remotely operated vehicles to drill holes into the vessel's four fuel tanks and secure a drainage valve with a hose attached for pumping operations," the ministry said.

A U.S.-operated marine company removed the heavy fuel oil, injectinghot waterinto the tanks to liquefy the oil within, the ministrysaid.

The company then pumped the oil and water mixture to the surfaceonboard a 74-metre offshore supply ship.

The Canadian Coast Guard said its own crew, as well as theWestern Canada Marine Response Corporation, were on the water to respond to any oil released, alongsidemembers of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation.