Coast Guard confirms what appears to be a fuel spill in Vancouver's English Bay

The Coast Guard's environmental response team was dispatched to Vancouver's English Bay Wednesday night for a fuel spill.

A light sheen of what appears to be marine fuel was spotted late yesterday afternoon, surrounding a grain ship anchored in deep water off Vancouver, said John Parker-Jervis, a spokesman for Port Metro Vancouver.

"There was a fair amount of product — what appears to be fuel, oil for the ships, around a particular grain carrier. As a precaution the ship has been boomed-off this morning, however [it is] not yet confirmed to be the source," Parker-Jervis said.

The ship was in the process of loading grain, and had returned to anchor before resuming to load. There is no evidence of fuel spilled between the grain terminal, and where the ship is currently anchored, Parker-Jervis said.

There is no estimate on the amount of fuel that has been spilled.

Five vessels currently surround the ship, and a boom has been constructed in an attempt to contain the fuel.