A vessel belonging to a high-speed ferry service that transports passengers between Vancouver and Nanaimo collided with a humpback whale in English Bay near Vancouver, as reported by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Hullo Ferries, the operator of the ship, promptly informed the department about the incident and is cooperating fully.
Following the collision, the whale was seen swimming north, although no further details were provided regarding its condition. It is mandatory for operators of boats or fishing equipment to immediately report accidental encounters with marine mammals to the authorities.
Hullo Ferries, known for offering up to 14 daily trips using two catamarans between downtown Vancouver and downtown Nanaimo, acknowledged that their vessel Spuhels likely came into contact with the whale during a scheduled voyage. The crew took evasive action upon spotting the mammal and followed safety protocols by performing a crash stop maneuver.
The company stated that they adhered to all reporting procedures by notifying DFO, the Canadian Coast Guard, First Nations partners, and the Whale Reporting Alert System. While no specifics were provided about the whale’s condition post-collision, the company mentioned that CCTV footage and crew observations indicated the whale swam away from the area after the incident.
Expressing deep concern, Vancouver Island Ferry Company emphasized their commitment to marine life protection and compliance with whale reporting protocols and Canada’s Marine Mammal Guidelines. Notably, a dead humpback whale was discovered last month near an area where it was believed to have been struck by a B.C. Ferries vessel off the northern coast of British Columbia.
