Cleanup efforts slid into place after an oil spill occurred aboard a B.C. Ferries service truck Tuesday.
Nanaimo Fire Rescue was called to assist with the cleanup shortly before 9 a.m. after a rectifier unit, which is an electric power converter used to supply current to corrosion control systems in ferry terminal berths, tipped over, spilling its coolant oil.
"I estimate about 90 per cent of the 465 litres of oil in the unit spilled," said Nanaimo Fire Rescue Capt. Mike Rispin, at the scene.
B.C. Ferries workers cleaned up the road spill with absorbent materials and a city vacuum truck sucked the majority of the oil spilled from the well of a nearby storm drain.
A small amount of oil that leaked through the storm drain system into Newcastle Channel near the foot of Cypress Street was contained and recovered by Nanaimo Port Authority and Western Canada Marine Response Corporation, which were continuing to monitor the site and carry out any further cleanup required Wednesday.