Crews removing oil from leaky WW II vessel shipwrecked in B.C. [Video]

Crews are heading off the coast of northern B.C. to prevent a 78-year-old shipwreck from leaking oil into the surrounding waters, the Canadian Coast Guard says. 

The 77-metre U.S. cargo ship USAT Brigadier General M.G. Zalinski met its unfortunate end in 1946 when it struck a rock near Pitt Island, while transporting army supplies and about 700,000 litres of heavy fuel oil from Seattle, Wash. to Whittier, Alaska.

The ship sank in 20 minutes, coming to rest on a rock ledge around 35 metres under the surface of the Grenville Channel, about 100 kilometres south of Prince Rupert, B.C.

In the 78 years since, the ship has deteriorated and fuel tanks aboard have collapsed — putting oil at risk of leaking into the Pacific Ocean. According to the coast guard, a spill could cause long-term damage to the marine environment and areas of significant cultural value.  

Now, crews are heading …