(Commonwealth_ As part of its efforts to safeguard Canada’s oceans and waterways, the Canadian Government is revisiting a long-forgotten shipwreck from World War II that continues to pose environmental risks along the Inside Passage between Canada and Alaska. On October 10, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) announced a C$4.9 million (US$3.6 million) contract with Resolve Marine to remove oil from the wreck of the USAT Brigadier General M.G. Zalinski. This operation is a critical step in preventing further environmental damage from the sunken vessel.
The story of Brigadier General M.G. Zalinski, once thought to be buried in history, sheds light on a significant, yet forgotten part of Canada’s maritime past. Originally built in 1919 in Ohio, the ship was first known as Lake Frohna and operated as a cargo vessel on the Great Lakes. At 251 feet long (77 meters) and weighing around 3,500 gross tons, the ship had a relatively uneventful career under several names, including Ace in the 1920s. In 1941, it was acquired by the U.S. government, renamed Brigadier General M.G. Zalinski, and put to service during World War II.
Though records do not indicate a distinguished war career, the Zalinski set off on a resupply mission in September 1946 from Seattle, Washington, to . Onboard were 48 crew members, an Irish Setter dog, and a large, hazardous cargo that included 700 tons of Bunker C fuel oil, gasoline, bombs, grenades, and small arms. The journey through the Inside Passage—a treacherous stretch of water known for its strong currents, shifting tides, and unpredictable weather would prove perilous.
As the Zalinski made its way north, it encountered a heavy rainstorm and initially sought safety by anchoring. Later, the vessel resumed its course and headed toward the Grenville Channel, an area infamous for its dangerous tides and currents. At 3:00 a.m. on September 29, 1946, the ship ran aground, creating a large gash in the hull that caused it to take on water rapidly. The crew, along with the dog, managed to abandon the ship in two lifeboats and were rescued by a nearby commercial fishing vessel. The Zalinski sank below the surface, and it was widely assumed that this marked the end of her story.
However, in September 2003, 57 years after the shipwreck, the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Maple noticed an oil slick in the Grenville Channel. Investigations led by the Canadian authorities revealed that the wreck of the Zalinski was still sitting upside down on a rock ledge, just 112 feet below the surface. The ship haWhittier, Alaskad not sunk to the ocean depths as previously believed but had remained in a relatively shallow and accessible area.
Given the ongoing oil leaks from the wreck, the Canadian authorities mounted a dive operation in 2013. Porter Marine Salvage, which led the effort, discovered the ship had become a habitat for marine life, including a two-and-a-half-meter-long Giant Pacific Octopus. While divers managed to remove some of the oil, a later survey indicated that approximately 27,000 liters of oil remained trapped in the wreck’s deteriorating fuel tanks.
The Canadian Coast Guard recently expressed concerns that the ship’s structure has weakened further, potentially leading to a major oil spill. Although only a minimal amount of oil is currently leaking, the structural deterioration of the Zalinski has made previously inaccessible fuel tanks more vulnerable to collapse. Recognizing the significant environmental risks, the CCG has decided to proceed with a full oil removal operation to prevent long-term damage to the ecosystem.
