The MV Schiedyk is leaking oil into the waters of a provincial marine park in Nootka Bay. Fifty-two years ago, the vessel hit an underwater ledge on the south side of Bligh Island while carrying goods from Gold River, B.C., to Portland, Ore., sailing past Nootka Sound on the western coast of Vancouver Island. Before the 34 crew members abandoned ship, they saw oil escaping into the ocean though at the time, it could not be determined how much oil escaped. Investigators have found the bleeding wreckage upside down at the bottom of the Zuciarte Channel after locals called the Canadian Coast Guard in September about a sheen on the water. Investigators are studying historic and initial reports from the shipwreck to determine how much oil might have been on board, how much might have leaked at the time of the sinking, and where the fuel tanks were stored. So far, they have confirmed the ship was carrying bunker oil and diesel.
