Experts from T&T Salvage are on the scene of what’s expected to be a major operation in Lark Harbour to free a cargo ship perched on the rocks in the area.
The 207 metre vessel Baltic III ran aground in heavy seas on the weekend. All 20 crew members on board were safely airlifted from the vessel by members of the 103 Search and Rescue Squadron.
Bruce English with the Canadian Coast Guard’s Environmental Response division says the vessel’s owners called in U.S.-based T&T Salvage, considered to be one of the best in business, to come up with a plan of attack.
Photo via Canadian Coast Guard
Efforts by the company to do a full assessment of the ship’s hull and any potential damage have been hampered by continued high winds and waves in the area.
English says while the vessel isn’t currently leaking, that could change.
“Definitely that’s a concern” says English. That’s why the salvage company was brought in to assess how much lube oil, hydraulic oil and marine diesel is on board.
Photo via Canadian Coast Guard
He says weather is continuing to hamper efforts to do a full assessment and remove the ship from the rocks.
“This could take a while, or things could speed up. If we get things to co-operate, and the vessel doesn’t have any large amount of damage on the bottom where it’s sitting, maybe it can go fast, but it could very well be there a while.”
