Rocking back and forth with the oncoming swells off northern Strait of Georgia, a swamped fishing boat attracts a steady stream of onlookers at the mouth of Willow Creek.
The boat was apparently being towed from Campbell River to Squirrel Cove on Cortes Island last night when the tow had to be abandoned. The Coast Guard vessel Cape Palmerston attended the scene at 6 p.m anticipating a search and rescue operation, said Phillip Hawkins, Officer in Charge at the Campbell River Coast Guard station.
"We established that it was not a search and rescue," Hawkins said. "There was nobody on board."
Through some investigative work, Hawkins found out that the boat was "an older live-aboard derelict."
"It was being towed from the Campbell River small craft harbour around to Squirrel Cove," Hawkins said. "The tow had to be abandoned."
Weather conditions yesterday evening were heavy rain and strong winds.
The case was turned over to the Coast Guard's environmental response group to determine if any further action was necessary.
Early indications are that the boat poses no threat to Willow Creek an important salmon stream.
Terry Davis, Coast Guard regional director of communications, said that the environmental response group has been notified and are looking into the situation.
"From what I understand, there doesn't appear to be any concerns with fuel leaks," Davis said.
Watch www.campbellrivermirror.com for updates.