MV Miner clean up days away from completion

The end of the clean up of the MV Miner is now only days away.

The Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal tweeted out a photo Friday afternoon showing the final piece of the bulk carrier left to be removed from the shores of ScaterieIsland.

• MV Miner cleanup on hold while Cape Breton lobster fishery underway
• MV Miner clean up in the home stretch
• MV Miner work delayed after 30 tonnes of asbestos found

Spokesperson Pamela Menchenton said they hoped the final piece could be removed all at once. That plan was scrapped after it was discovered the section was too heavy.

Crews were working to cut it into more manageable pieces Friday and are returningto the site Monday to continue.

Menchenton said she expected that by midweek, the final pieces would be gone.

The bulk carrier ran aground on the shores of Scaterie Island off Cape Breton in September of 2011. The ship was being towed from Montreal to Turkey to be cut up for scrap when the tow line snapped.

The company in charge of the clean up, RJM Construction of Antigonish, found 30 tonnes of asbestos on the ship during the salvage.

Federal authorities originally estimated the ship was only carrying six tonnes of asbestos. Workers also discovered fuel on board and that too slowed operations and drove up costs.

Transportation Minister Geoff MacLellan said in April he expected the costs of the clean up to be at least $2 million higher than the $12 million budgeted for the work.