On-site workers acted quickly to contain an oil leak during the final stages of removing the wreck of the MV Miner off Scaterie Island, says the government of Canada’s Nova Scotia province.
About 800 litres of oil was collected after a leak occurred during demolition of the wreckage of the MV Miner off Cape Breton's Scaterie Island.
“Thankfully, the contractor already had preventative actions in place and contained the spill immediately,” said 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.”
He said no heavy oil got past containment booms that were close to the wreck and the lobster fishery in the area was not affected.
The private contractor responsible for the cleanup of the MV Miner had to deal with what Nova Scotia Transportation Geoff MacLellan is calling a "minor oil spill" last Sunday.
It happened when workers tried to move the last remaining ship engine.
MacLellan said the contractor, RJM Construction, anticipated there might be oil or fuel left in it so workers set up a containment area before the lift.
The 12,000-tonne, 223-metre bulk carrier ran aground on the island after a tow line snapped in rough seas during transit to Turkey from Montreal in September 2011.
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.