[SYDNEY, NS] — A salvage company that is to remove the derelict ship MV Miner from the rocky shore of Scatarie Island is expected to make a preliminary site visit Monday.
Bennington Group of New York will also meet officials of the provincial departments of Natural Resources and Environment and federal government representatives, said Dan Davis, a spokesman for Natural Resources.
“They’ll have a meeting and they are going to expect to have a site visit as well of Scatarie,” he said Tuesday. “As you know, there have been changes in the past but that’s what we have planned at this point.”
The salvage company was expected in February but the site visit fell through.
Davis said there are no plans for this trip to have a meeting with local residents, but the government has been maintaining contact with a group of community members and will provide them with an update after the meeting with the salvage company.
Bennington Group of New York and Armada Offshore of Turkey have entered into a joint venture with MV Miner owner Arivina Navigation SA of Turkey to remove the wreck.
The Greek ocean-going tug Hellas was towing the MV Miner on Sept. 20 when its line broke free and the ship ran aground on Scatarie Island, which is a designated wilderness area. It was on its way from Montreal to Turkey, where it was supposed to be scrapped.
Davis said there are no plans yet for when the derelict ship will be removed.
“The site visit will likely help with the company’s plan, when they have had a look at it and discussed further how they would remove the vessel.”
Local lobster fisherman Kevin Spencer has said if the vessel is still there for the May 14-July 14 lobster season, he has concerns about the safety of lobster fishermen operating in the area.
