There was 4000 l of fuel on that boat.
Not cool.
Pollution in a sensitive area...marshes to the north & south.
Plus the boat itself & contents...imagine all the stuff in a 100 ft boat...
My guess the tide was so high the water covered some part of the rock jetty & the pilot thought he could motor across east of the big lighthouse.
At south end of Gilbert Rd rocks jet out quite far from the shore. When tide comes up even a foot over that shelve unknowing boaters think it's deep water. Wham if they motor too close.
The whole area boaters must know the waters. By Delta not too far from the tunnel in those side channels / houseboats there was ( maybe still is ? ) a big sucker deadhead under the water & right in the middle.....crazy. Seen it just under the water for years that I boated by there on occasions.
EDIT IN:
Deadhead in that channel just SW of a Captain Cove mentioned it's Delta but maybe it 's Ladner.