Rainbow Sheen Nanaimo
Last updated on January 19, 2026Disclaimer:
- Information provided is based on reports received by Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR)
- Information provided is considered to be current at the time of posting, but is subject to change
Incident description
| Incident Date | January 5, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Name | DGIR: 260038 |
| Source | Unknown |
| Nearest Community | Nanaimo, B.C. |
| Spilled Content | Hydrocarbons |
| Who is involved |
Ministry of Environment and Parks (ENV), Transport Canada, City of Nanaimo, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) |
Response phase details
The responsible person or spiller is legally required to cleanup or manage the cleanup of a spill.
In incidents where the responsible person is unknown, unable or unwilling to manage the cleanup, the Ministry of Environment and Parks (ENV) may assume the role.
The updates below reflect the ministry’s oversight of the spillers’ actions. Details describe the spill response phase only and not the complete lifecycle of the spill. Visit the 'More information' page for other reports.
Updates are in reverse chronological order with the most recent at the top.
Industry-specific language may be explained in the Glossary of Terms (PDF, 106KB).
Most recent updates
January 12
An ENV Response Officer and Recovery Staff were onsite January 9, 2026, and participated in a Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique (SCAT) reconnaissance with DFO. No sheening outside the containment was observed.
An ENV Response Officer completed a site visit today, January 12, 2026. No sheening was observed outside of containment.
The containment booms remain effective in containing the sheen.
Sample results to identify the spilled material and its source are pending.
ENV Response Officers and Recovery Staff continue to monitor the situation.
January 8 - updated at 4:00 p.m.
On January 5, 2026, the Ministry of Environment and Parks (ENV) received a report of a sheen between Duke Point and Mudge Island south of Nanaimo, B.C..
The National Aerial Surveillance Program (NASP), under Transport Canada, did an overflight and estimated that between 350 litres and 1,600 litres of sheen was on the water.
The spilled material migrated from an industrial facility and into a culvert that flows to the marine environment.
Booms have been deployed at the culvert outfall. Qualified Professionals have been retained to undertake response and cleanup.
An ENV Response Officer was onsite Tuesday, January 6, 2026, and today, January 8, 2026.
A Marine Mammal Rescue Unit from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) was onsite today to conduct wildlife assessments.
ENV Response Officers and Recovery Staff continue to monitor response and cleanup.