No fuel was spilled when a cargo ship was blown onto a reef in Plumper Sound off Mayne Island this week, says a coast guard official.

The 794-foot Hebei Lion was at anchor Wednesday night when it was dragged in winds of up to 120 kilometres per hour, according to the Washington state Department of Ecology. Dale Jensen, who manages spill prevention and response for the department, said the fuel tanks on such a large vessel could have caused significant pollution.

A ship as big as the Hebei Lion can carry more than two million gallons of heavy black oil for fuel, the department said.

Canadian Coast Guard spokesman Dan Bate said no spilled oil or fuel was detected, and the coast guard did not have to respond to the scene.

"By all accounts, everything worked out OK in terms of pollution."

He said the scenario of an anchored vessel being moved in high winds is not uncommon.

"Given the profound environmental and economic risks, we're relieved and pleased at the outcome," Jensen said in a statement. "We mobilized staff and were prepared to deploy response systems as needed."

The department said the vessel was towed off the reef by a tugboat Thursday morning.

Matt Gordon from the B.C. Ministry of Environment said the ministry was notified about the incident, but would have acted only if a pollution problem arose. He said the ministry would have monitored nearby shorelines if oil, diesel or some other substance had been spilled, and would have used any necessary environmental-protection measures.

jwbell@tc.canwest.com