Fishers rescued after boat strikes rock, takes on water off Vancouver Island

A coast guard vessel is pictured near Victoria, B.C., in an undated image. (CTV News Vancouver Island)

The Canadian Coast Guard says no injuries were reported after a fishing vessel struck a rock and was partially sunk off western Vancouver Island.

The stranded mariners were rescued from the fishing vessel Northern Challenge after it was grounded in Barkley Sound, a spokesperson for the Department of National Defence said in a statement Wednesday.

The local Tseshaht First Nation says two people were rescued from the grounded 12-metre trawler after it hit bottom and started to sink Saturday evening.

The collision happened near Dodd Island, within the Broken Group Islands of the ecologically sensitive Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

The First Nation says the vessel was carrying approximately 530 litres of fuel when it was stranded.

Coast guard environmental hazard specialists are working alongside spill response professionals to assess any potential fuel leakage from the vessel, the National Defence spokesperson said.

Officials are also conducting aerial surveillance of the site as they next steps to stabilize the vessel and remove it from the area.

“A small amount of light (fuel) sheening has been observed, however there is no indication of an active release at this time,” spokesperson Kened Sadiku said.

“The Canadian Coast Guard will continue to monitor the site and take appropriate action as required to protect the marine environment.”

The vessel owner could be responsible for the cost of any pollution response and cleanup activities under the “polluter pays” principle of the federal Marine Liability Act and the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act.

“The Canadian Coast Guard will ensure an appropriate response is carried out and will pursue cost recovery as required under federal legislation,” Sadiku added.

According to the federal marine vessel registry, the Northern Challenge was built in 1966 and is actively registered as a fishing vessel in Victoria.