The Canadian Coast Guard is on the scene in the Lark Harbour area where a massive cargo ship ran aground in February.
The salvage effort is being carried out by a private salvage company, hired by the ship’s owners, while the Coast Guard is providing backup and oversight of the operation.
Area residents and harvesters in particular have been growing increasingly concerned, fearful that potential pollution on board the compromised vessel, and the added activity in the area, will disrupt the fishing season.
The Coast Guard says Canada follows a “polluter pay” principle whereby the owners are responsible for addressing all the costs, hazards and the risk of pollution posed by their vessel.
Photo via Canadian Coast Guard
The Coast Guard says resources remain on site with additional pollution response equipment available and assets are in place to ensure that the owner is taking appropriate and reasonable measures to address all hazards posed by the vessel, including the remaining fuel and oil on board.
As VOCM News previously reported, eight containers of polymeric beads, considered a serious pollutant if it should spill into the environment, were removed from the vessel late last month.
