BC Ferries vessel collides with humpback whale in Howe Sound near Metro Vancouver

VANCOUVER — A humpback whale has been struck by a BC Ferries vessel in waters near Metro Vancouver.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada says in an email that they were alerted to the collision on Sunday, when the Queen of Surrey reportedly struck the whale near Keats and Grace islands in Howe Sound.

The 139-metre-long Queen of Surrey provides regular service between Vancouver-Horseshoe Bay terminal and the Sunshine Coast.

The DFO says witnesses reported two humpback whales near the ferry at the time of the collision, and one was struck after it surfaced in front of the vessel.

The federal agency says the whale was seen behind the vessel after the collision, and investigators are working to identify it and assess its condition.

BC Ferries has also confirmed the collision and is co-operating with the DFO, adding that initial reports showed crew had “very little time to react.”

“We recognize how upsetting this is, particularly for those who witnessed the collision, including our crews,” BC Ferries spokeswoman Lilian Kim says in a statement. “They work on these waters every day and care deeply about protecting the marine life around them.”

Kim says BC Ferries crew receive special training on whale awareness, and vessels operate under specific protocols to reduce collision risks.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada would not comment on whether the whale has been found, only stating that the agency is “currently reviewing the situation.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2026.

The Canadian Press