Latest news from the Cape Breton Post was two attempts yesterday to get her off failed . Story goes on to say that more attempts to be made today . And , once she Is afloat again , the hull will be checked for integrity .
I laud their positivity , although they may be a tad uninformed as to what kind of bottom condition the hull is in now , with no one on board , and those tank sounding pipes welded over . Latest weather forecasts are for 15 to 20 knot winds for Sunday , with a 1 meter sea state , and lighter winds for Monday and Tuesday . So they have been very lucky weather wise , but the old Maplecliffe Hall better not be still there if , and when the weather does change .
Because then Scaterie will be her last resting place . Minus the diesel fuel of course . That will come off very quickly I can assure you .
Canadian Miner
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oldseadog
Re: Canadian Miner
The seas at the time were good according to a captain who was in the area 24 hours earlier, someone suggested to me a ground swell snapped the cable. A third try to pull her off, ended up a failure as well.
Re: Canadian Miner
It certainly does seem as if the old ship is putting up a fight to escape the hangman. As with fireman12, she's very special to me.
I wonder if any survey has been initiated to determine whether she is now partially tidal. Seems unlikely that her bottom hasn't been compromised, especially given the nature of the Scaterie coast and the fact that she's so hard aground. Severe bottom damage will surely end any prospect of a transatlantic tow.
I wonder if any survey has been initiated to determine whether she is now partially tidal. Seems unlikely that her bottom hasn't been compromised, especially given the nature of the Scaterie coast and the fact that she's so hard aground. Severe bottom damage will surely end any prospect of a transatlantic tow.
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JEM
Re: Canadian Miner
Sydney steel has been closed for maybe 10 yrs. I assume site remediation is ongoing.ashland69 wrote:...If Sydney Steel is still in business, maybe the steel will go there....
Svitzer certainly has the closest tugs to assist. I doubt very much you'll see an ATL supply tug there. ATL does have other vessels throughout the Maritimes. Secunda's Ryan Leet left Halifax this morning but looks to be heading for the Sable area. Her comings and goings lately inferred working a contract in the offshore.
Re: Canadian Miner
Latest news on the Miner today is that an attempt was made to get her off this morning but the tow lines snapped . She`s stuck solid . So looks like it will take more than one tug , most likely the banished Svitzer fleet in Port Hawksbury may get the call to assist , as they have the right kind of tugs , and are close . And yes , Atlantic Towing does have their AHST offshore tugs that can get it done , but I don`t know if they can be released from their Hibernia work . Either that or Ocean Group will get the salvage call .
The fuel tank being discussed in the Post article is the furnace oil primary tank , and is up by the steering gear / gangway door level . So she would have to be severely damaged before that could be a problem . Either way time is of the essence , because when the weather gets up again , time will run out . Funny thing , when I was looking at Paul Beesley`s pics of them getting her ready in Montreal , I was concerned about the ballast tanks sounding caps being welded over , in case they may be needed , now look at how important those things have become . Because ballast tank integrity now becomes a real issue if and when she gets afloat again . Makes you wonder if anyone was thinking right with this tow .
And to answer Guest-usa , the Seaway ends at Montreal , at the St Lambert Lock . From there you exit into Montreal Harbour and the St Lawrence River . The last pilot station is Les Escoumains , where the Quebec City pilot gets off and the ship is in the hands of its own navigation crew from there .
The fuel tank being discussed in the Post article is the furnace oil primary tank , and is up by the steering gear / gangway door level . So she would have to be severely damaged before that could be a problem . Either way time is of the essence , because when the weather gets up again , time will run out . Funny thing , when I was looking at Paul Beesley`s pics of them getting her ready in Montreal , I was concerned about the ballast tanks sounding caps being welded over , in case they may be needed , now look at how important those things have become . Because ballast tank integrity now becomes a real issue if and when she gets afloat again . Makes you wonder if anyone was thinking right with this tow .
And to answer Guest-usa , the Seaway ends at Montreal , at the St Lambert Lock . From there you exit into Montreal Harbour and the St Lawrence River . The last pilot station is Les Escoumains , where the Quebec City pilot gets off and the ship is in the hands of its own navigation crew from there .
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Guest-usa
Re: Canadian Miner
Thank You, Rmack for the picture, and fireman12 for the map. Many of us following shipping on the Lakes have very little understanding of the passage on the St Lawrence Seaway. Is Sydney the end point for the Seaway? If not, what is?
Re: Canadian Miner
Depending on the damage to the ship and the topography where the Miners' is situated, it might be abandoned to the underwriters. Since it has to be removed, if it's abandoned to the underwriters because of damage and the topography, it obviously would be scrapped in situ. If Sydney Steel is still in business, maybe the steel will go there. From the perspective of someone who has previously sent ships to the boneyard overseas, I certainly hope it can be refloated, but I have my doubts. All that rock looks pretty scary!
Re: Canadian Miner
Quite a shock to see that this morning when I did my usual AM boatnerd news look . And seeing my fave laker ashore , stranded on a rock off Main - a - Dieu , that is just an hour up the coast from my home town , Louisbourg , just totally blew me away .
I know Scaterie Island pretty well , it`s as I said a rock , I`ve been on it a couple of times , it`s pretty barren . I`ve included a map , it`s the little island just east of Main - a - Dieu . Most easterly place in Nova Scotia , I had an Uncle who was lightkeeper there when they still had lightkeepers , and he told me a lot about the place , and what it can be like in bad weather . And the Miner is facing stbd side square on to the Atlantic . Winds are forecast light for the next few days , but with her so high up on the shore , and sitting on rocks , if they attempt to drag her off on the high tide , it can quite possibly cause more damage , and she`ll become a much larger problem .
I don`t believe the old Maplecliffe Hall wants to join her sisters` fates in Turkey and India . In the predicament she is in now , that wish may well be granted . I`m just wondering how the towline got parted in the first place , winds were light , unless there was a heavy swell running , and some kind of chaffing could have caused the problem . This may well be a very tricky salvage attempt , if there is one , and as most of my fellow bluenosers know , any ship that`s come ashore around this place , well , stays ashore .
I know Scaterie Island pretty well , it`s as I said a rock , I`ve been on it a couple of times , it`s pretty barren . I`ve included a map , it`s the little island just east of Main - a - Dieu . Most easterly place in Nova Scotia , I had an Uncle who was lightkeeper there when they still had lightkeepers , and he told me a lot about the place , and what it can be like in bad weather . And the Miner is facing stbd side square on to the Atlantic . Winds are forecast light for the next few days , but with her so high up on the shore , and sitting on rocks , if they attempt to drag her off on the high tide , it can quite possibly cause more damage , and she`ll become a much larger problem .
I don`t believe the old Maplecliffe Hall wants to join her sisters` fates in Turkey and India . In the predicament she is in now , that wish may well be granted . I`m just wondering how the towline got parted in the first place , winds were light , unless there was a heavy swell running , and some kind of chaffing could have caused the problem . This may well be a very tricky salvage attempt , if there is one , and as most of my fellow bluenosers know , any ship that`s come ashore around this place , well , stays ashore .
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Brent
Re: Canadian Miner
I doubt that the scrapper really cares what condition the ship is in as long as it gets there. I would assume that there is insurance on the ship to cover loss or grounding. The Ashland was on her way to South America and grounded in Bermuda. It is said that there was a hole the size of an Elephant in the bottom and a break that kept open and closing as the ship worked in a seaway. She made it to her destination, though barely afloat. Under the Abandon Shipwreck Act someone has to get it out of there. The days of just leaving the boat to rot away are gone.
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Rob
Re: Canadian Miner
Does anyone what the situation will be if she is holed or damaged? Would the scrap dealers who bought her, pay the money to re-float and repair her? If not what will become of her? I do think she is putting up a fight! She was and still is a proud boat!
Re: Canadian Miner
Here is a link to the Cape Breton Post newspapers image of the Miner aground.
Looks like the old girl isn't giving up without a fight.
Looks like the old girl isn't giving up without a fight.
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Guest
Re: Canadian Miner
There are a lot of great pictures by Paul Beesley of the Canadian Miner on the Sept 19th News Photo Gallery showing her all preped for her last trip .
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seadog
Re: Canadian Miner
vigilant 1 will be the steering tug at 0600 tomorrow morning departure of canadian miner