A fuel spill has been found blanketing the water around Canada Place in Vancouver's Burrard Inlet.

The oil slick was reported Thursday around 5:00 a.m., but harbour master Yoss Leclerc said crews are still working to determine the severity of the spill.

"We are in the middle of a rising tide," Leclerc said. "But we are trying to find the dimension of the slick and what kind of product we are dealing with."

A Peace Boat cruise ship docked in the port, the SS Oceanic, has taken responsibility for the spill, according to the Vancouver Coast Guard.

Peace Boat is an international non-profit organization from Japan, which advocates human rights and environmental sustainability.

Port staff, with the help of coast guard and Transport Canada workers, began cleanup operations Thursday morning.

Burrard Clean Operations, a marine spill response company, has also been commissioned to clean the port.

Early indication is that the spill is not bunker oil, but light fuel oil, and that no animals have been harmed.

"Right now we have no report of impact on wildlife," Leclerc said.