A Tofino-based whale watching vessel ran aground on Saturday night.
The Stellar Sea struck bottom and partially sank near Warn Bay about 20 kilometres northeast of Tofino, according to Regional Director for Fisheries and Oceans Canada Gilles Verret.
“All persons were safely removed from the vessel,” Verret said in an email to the Westerly News on Sunday.
“The [Canadian Coast Guard] crew from the Tofino CCG Station boomed the vessel late last night, and plugged fuel vents. There are no reports of pollution this morning.”
The Stellar Sea is owned by Jamie’s Whaling Station and Verret said the company is putting plans in place to salvage the vessel.
“CCG is monitoring the situation with crews based in the community, and is deploying two additional response specialists to the operation today,” he said.
The roughly 13-metre Stellar Sea can hold up to 40 passengers and is typically used for bear watching and private inlet charters, according to Jamie’s website. It is currently unclear how many passengers and crew were onboard the vessel when the incident occurred.
The Westerly has reached out to Jamie’s for comment.
