British Columbia

Coast Guard investigates oily sheen on Vancouver's False Creek

The Canadian Coast Guard is trying to identify the source of a diesel smell and sheen near Science World in Vancouver's False Creek.

Rainbow sheen was clearly visible to commuters crossing Cambie Bridge on Tuesday morning

An oily sheen is seen on a large inlet, with buildings and a spherical building in the background.
An oil sheen can be seen on the surface of Vancouver’s False Creek on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. The Canadian Coast Guard says they are trying to identify the source of the sheen. (Ian Young/The Canadian Press)

The Canadian Coast Guard is trying to identify the source of a diesel smell and sheen near Science World in Vancouver's False Creek.

It says it received a report of the apparent pollution around 6:20 p.m. Monday, but couldn't determine the source due to heavy rain and poor visibility.

The rainbow sheen was clearly visible to commuters crossing Cambie Bridge on Tuesday morning.

Coast Guard spokesperson Michelle Imbeau says crew members from the Kitsilano base were using remotely piloted aircraft to determine the source.

She says they observed "multiple patches of non-recoverable rainbow sheen" in the area, but were unable to work out where it was coming from.

Imbeau says the Coast Guard is working with the province and the City of Vancouver to determine if the pollution came from land-based outfalls from recent heavy rain.