SYDNEY, N.S.\u2014A tanker that ran aground off the coast of Cape Breton, N.S., last weekend was freed Sunday, a week after it became stuck in shallow water.<\/p>\n
The Arca 1 was being towed to Sydney Harbour for repairs after the coast guard and salvage crews pulled the vessel from a bay near Little Pond, N.S.<\/p>\n
Stephen Bornais, a coast guard spokesperson, said around 150 locals looked on as high tides lifted the 53-metre vessel from the seabed, allowing it to be pulled into deeper waters.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s in a marine community, so … it was a knowledgeable crowd,\u201d Bornais said, \u201cPeople seemed very appreciative.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olous Boag of McKeil Marine, an Ontario-based salvage company, said the operation involved two tug boats and a more than 1,150-metre tow line. Salvage crews drained several hundred tonnes of water used as ballast to float the ship, Boag said, and its anchor was recovered from the sandy bottom.<\/p>\n
Boag said Sunday’s operation took less time than expected after a previous attempt failed last week and crews were dogged by weather-related delays.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s one of those situations where you’re preparing for the worst and hoping for the best,\u201d Boag said. \u201cWe had the right weather, a good tide, preparations for the tow and for the salvage crew all came together quite nicely to make this a success.\u201d<\/p>\n
The coast guard has said the vessel was on its way to its Mexico owner Petroil Marine, when it ran aground Sunday after its engines failed during a storm. Six crew had to be airlifted to safety.<\/p>\n
The tanker is empty aside from a few tonnes of engine fuel, said Boag, posing an \u201cextremely low risk\u201d to the environment.<\/p>\n
Petroil Marine is responsible for the costs of removing the ship, which Boag said \u201cisn’t going to be cheap.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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