A 2005 study estimated there could be up to 22 billion litres of fuel and more than 8,500 at-risk vessels under the world’s oceans. Many of these vessels sunk during or around the Second World War and continue to deteriorate.

In 1985, the Manolis L sank after it ran aground near Change Islands. When it went down, the vessel was carrying more than 500,000 litres of fuel, most of it a highly toxic, heavy oil known as Bunker C.

A 16x9 investigation has discovered there are hundreds of sunken ships in Canadian waters, some of which have leaked oil in the past and are at risk of doing so again.