AmericasOperationsTankers

Bunkering vessel refloated one week after grounding off Nova Scotia

A bunkering tanker that lost power and grounded near Sydney Mines Cape Breton, Nova Scotia was successfully refloated after a week, according to CBC.

A first attempt at refloating had failed last Tuesday but this time salvage company McKeil Marine, working with the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), managed to free the Arca 1. It was then towed to a secure berth in Sydney Harbour in N.S.

This successful refloating was preceded by salvage crews pumping out around 300 tonnes of ballast water.

The 53-metre Arca 1, owned by Mexico’s Petroil Marina, had been en route from Montreal to Mexico when it suffered engine failure in stormy weather. Further bad weather delayed attempts to dislodge the vessel before.

It had last been refuelling ships in the Port of Montreal but was carrying no cargo, only 16 tonnes of fuel, at the time of the grounding.

The six-member crew had been evacuated from the ship by Canadian Forces helicopter soon after the grounding.

No pollution has been reported. Petroil Marina will be responsible for the costs of removing the ship.

Donal Scully

With 28 years experience writing and editing for newspapers in the UK and Hong Kong, Donal is now based in California from where he covers the Americas for Splash as well as ensuring the site is loaded through the Western Hemisphere timezone.
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