A vessel belonging to a high-speed ferry service connecting Vancouver and Nanaimo collided with a humpback whale in English Bay near Vancouver, as reported by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). The company operating the ferry service, Hullo Ferries, promptly notified the department about the incident and is cooperating fully with authorities.
Following the collision, the whale was observed swimming north, but no further details on its condition were provided. Regulations mandate that operators of vessels or fishing equipment must immediately report accidental interactions with marine mammals to the authorities.
Hullo Ferries, which offers up to 14 daily sailings between downtown Vancouver and downtown Nanaimo using two catamarans, confirmed that their vessel, Spuhels, likely made contact with the whale during a scheduled trip. The crew took evasive action upon spotting the mammal and conducted a crash stop maneuver in line with safety protocols.
The company stated that they followed all required reporting procedures, including informing DFO, the Canadian Coast Guard, First Nations partners, and the Whale Reporting Alert System. While details on the whale’s condition post-collision were not disclosed, CCTV footage and crew observations indicated that the whale moved away from the area after the incident.
Expressing deep concern, Vancouver Island Ferry Company emphasized their commitment to marine life protection and adherence to reporting systems and guidelines. This incident follows a recent discovery of a deceased humpback near the northern coast of British Columbia, reportedly struck by a B.C. Ferries vessel.
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