Optimism there's been minimal damage after a 40-foot boat ran aground off the Kaikoura coast

A small amount of the 13-hundred litres of fuel on board leaked, but has dispersed.

Environment Canterbury's regional on-scene commander Emma Parr says the impact looks relatively small.

She says a minor oily sheen is coming through on the surface of the water which they're assuming escaped from the fuel tanks' breathers.

Staff are aiming to safely remove the rest of the fuel from the vessel today.