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By Allan Dowd
VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Canadian authorities were investigating a suspicious ship in the Pacific Ocean Tuesday amid fears a load of boat people was about hit Canadian shores for the second time in less than a month.
A military aircraft spotted the unidentified vessel about 240 kilometers (150 miles) off the Queen Charlotte Islands Monday, and officials said it matched the profile of the type of ship often used to smuggle refugees from China.
The ship's identification markings were covered over and it lacked fishing gear. No people were spotted on board, but a Canadian Coast Guard official said it was changing course in an apparent attempt to elude the aircraft tracking it.
A dilapidated fishing vessel with 123 people on board arrived on Vancouver Island from China in July, and authorities have expressed concern Canada could soon face the same smuggling problem already experienced by Australia and New Zealand.
The people who arrived in July said they were forced by the smugglers to spend most of the 60-day journey in the 180-foot boat's cramped, filthy hold.
Authorities said although the ship was constantly changing course Tuesday, it was not moving closer to Canada, they were making preparations in case it reaches Canadian shores.
``We're preparing for all contingencies, and that's all I'm prepared to say on that,'' said George Varnai of the Department of Citizenship and Immigration in Vancouver.
British Columbia's Queen Charlotte Islands are not far from the Alaska border, but a United States Coast Guard spokesman said the U.S. service was not involved in tracking the suspicious vessel, which is in international waters.
The smuggling of people out of China, often from Fujian province, has become a major business for organized crime groups, which are believed to have charged the people who arrived in July up to $38,000 each to make the journey.
Eighty six of those who arrived in July have been released and are being considered for refugee status. The rest are in custody because officials believe they were part of the smuggling operation.
Australia toughened its immigration rules in response to the recent boat arrivals, and Canada was expected to propose new laws later this year. Officials say many immigrants who arrive illegally in Canada continue on to the United States.
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