In early December 2020, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) contracted Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) to deploy near the east end of Bligh Island, in Nootka Sound, following reports from locals of oil sheen sightings. After further investigation, the Coast Guard identified a historic shipwreck, the MV Schiedyk a 150-metre cargo ship that ran aground in 1968, as the source of the marine pollution.
Unified Command was established involving the Canadian Coast Guard, Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation and BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. Once contracted, WCMRC engaged in daily preventative actions to contain immediate threats and prevent damage to the environment by deploying Geographic Response Strategies (GRS).
Throughout the response, crews recovered heavy bunker fuel, protected shorelines and sensitive areas with containment boom, and implemented wildlife deterrents.
On June 15, 2021, Resolve Marine accessed the four bulk fuel tanks successfully pumping and flushing them out, eliminating the risk of approximately 60 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and marine diesel from reaching the marine environment.