A whale collision incident involving a Hullo Ferries vessel, part of a high-speed passenger ferry service operating between Vancouver and Nanaimo, occurred in English Bay near Vancouver. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) confirmed that Hullo Ferries promptly reported the incident and is cooperating fully with the authorities.
Following the collision, the whale was observed swimming north, but no details on its condition were provided. Vessel operators are required to report accidental marine mammal contacts to the DFO immediately as per regulations.
Hullo Ferries, which offers up to 14 daily sailings using two catamarans on the Vancouver-Nanaimo route, acknowledged that their vessel Spuhels likely made contact with the whale during a scheduled sailing. The company stated that the bridge team took evasive action upon sighting the mammal, following safety procedures.
The company assured that all necessary protocols were followed, including notifying the 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 concern for the event, Vancouver Island Ferry Company emphasized its commitment to marine life protection, adherence to reporting systems, and marine mammal guidelines. The incident follows a recent discovery of a dead humpback whale near B.C.’s northern coast, reportedly struck by a B.C. Ferries vessel, as per researchers.