Around 800 litres of oil was collected after it leaked during the final stages of removing the wreck of the bulk carrier MV Miner off Scaterie Island, the government of Canada’s Nova Scotia province reports.
Around 800 litres of oil was collected after it leaked during the final stages of removing the wreck of the bulk carrier MV Miner off Scaterie Island, the government of Canada’s Nova Scotia province reports.The contractor, RJ MacIsaac Construction, was planning to remove the last remaining engine from the wreck site. Because it was a large ocean-going engine, the company expected oil could be an environmental risk and took appropriate preventive measures, the Nova Scotia government says.Divers videoed the remaining wreckage and a comprehensive plan to contain any oil leak was prepared. Oil containment booms were placed around the wreckage and oil absorption materials were on-site before trying to remove the engine.Once it became clear a leak had happened the containment plan was implemented.The Canadian Coast Guard and Transport Canada were notified of the leak and the information was shared with the Main-à-Dieu Community Development Association. As a standard precaution, the Coast Guard is monitoring the area by air for signs of oil.“Thankfully, the contractor already had preventative actions in place and contained the spill immediately,” said Nova Scotia’s Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Geoff MacLellan.“No heavy oil got past the containment oil booms and the lobster fishery is not affected. I’m very grateful for their quick work and especially for their pro-active measures to contain the leak.”The 223-meter bulker, owned by Arvina Navigation SA of Turkey, ran aground on the Scaterie Island in September 2011 while under tow from Turkey to Montreal.
