Chris Brown reports for CBC Radio

VICTORIA, B.C. - Another boatload of would-be immigrants were rescued from their decrepit ship off the coast of Vancouver Island on Tuesday. "The occupants of the vessel all appear to be of Chinese origin. We believe they are from Fujian province," said Department of Immigration spokesman George Varnai.

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The rusting boat

It is the largest of three shiploads of immigrants to arrive off the British Columbia coast in the past two months. Immigration officials say they're still not sure exactly how many people were onboard the ship, but they estimate there are about 190.

The occupants of the other ships were also from Fujian.

The most recent arrivals had to be plucked from the crammed, rusting, unseaworthy vessel, by three Canadian ships. "It was considered to be a vessel that could not carry on its own steam, or even with assistance, to port," said Varnai.

The ship was spotted on Monday afternoon by a Canadian Forces Aurora long-range patrol aircraft. Authorities immediately launched the rescue plan which has been used twice before this summer.

School buses have been rushed to the community of Gold River, on Vancouver Island, where they will await the arrival of the migrants. From there the people will be transported, once again, to Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, near Victoria, for processing.

The discovery of yet another ship suspected of smuggling a human cargo has set off new alarm bells. Some are criticizing the authorities for not keeping a better watch and diverting the smugglers' ships before they can enter Canadian waters.

But Immigration Minister Elinor Caplan says the most recent arrivals - like those before them - are entitled to the normal immigration process.

Reform MP John Reynolds says he believes even more boats filled with Chinese immigrants are heading for the West Coast. He says Canada should sit down with China to discuss the problem - and make it clear there will be problems with trade between the two countries unless the smuggling stops.

The first ship, discovered near Gold River on July 20, had 123 Chinese nationals onboard. Each one claimed refugee status.

The second ship carried 131 people. It dumped its human cargo on the shores of the Queen Charlotte Islands. Seventy-four of those migrants are having their refugee claims assessed. The other 57 face possible deportation.

Immigration officials say the people rescued on Tuesday spent 72 days at sea, jammed into a ship that was "a fairly small boat compared with the number of people it was carrying."

Most of the passengers were in relatively good condition. Several were reported to be suffering from mild hypothermia and dehydration. One passenger was suffering from severe abdominal pain.