Salvors attempting to lift a bunkering tanker that ran aground off the coast of Nova Scotia failed in the first attempt due to difficulties in removing ballast water. The weather in the region is expected to turn inclement, which will likely delay any further attempts.
The 1,317-dwt Arca 1 (built 1963) was en route from Montreal to Mexico when it ran aground on Cape Breton Island Sunday evening after the engine lost power. Six crew members off the ship were rescued.
Keith Laidlaw, incident commander for the Canadian Coast Guard, said salvors from McKeil Marine boarded the vessel last night to lighter the vessel so it could be moved off the rocks.
Despite the Coast Guard providing pumps to the operation, Laidlaw says the salvors "indicated they were having problems with ballast water removal."
The operation was shut down at approximately 1840 hours local time. McKeil had to re-ballast the ship in order to stabilise it on the rocks.
Laidlaw says a McKeil tug and the Coast Guard remain on the scene. But it was unclear when another salvage operation can be conducted due to increasingly bad weather in the area with gale force winds expected.
"Nothing is going to happen for the next couple of days," Laidlaw said.
The Arca 1 was making the voyage due to a recent sale. Equasis lists its current owner as Mexico-based Petroil Marine. The ship is classed by Lloyd’s Register. No P&I or hull coverage is listed.
