MHAs push federal government to clean up grounded cargo vessel, as pollution concern grows
MHA Eddie Joyce says ship owner rejected plan to build road to site
Two months after a cargo shop ran aground on Newfoundland's west coast, politicians are voicing fears of environmental damage and a lack of action, as tar balls are washing up on nearby beaches.
On Wednesday in the House of Assembly, Independent MHA for Humber-Bay of Islands Eddie Joyce pressed outgoing Premier Andrew Furey on what is being done to avoid environmental disaster over of the grounded MSC Baltic III, located near Lark Harbour.
Joyce says the community and fish harvesters are concerned about a potential oil spill.
"The process is very slow and depending on weather conditions," said Joyce. "I understand that this is a federal coast guard issue, but delay would potentially cause a major oil spill and a catastrophe."
Furey acknowledged search and rescue efforts, the Fish, Food and Allied Workers union and the community for navigating the crisis and ensuring no loss of life.
"There does represent a continued environmental threat," said Furey.
He says he's written to the Canadian Coast Guard and the federal government to "ensure that they are taking this with this level of urgency and acuity that is required to protect that crucial fishing ground for people in that district."
Tar balls rolling in
On April 14, the coast guard announced tar balls the size of tennis balls have been appearing on the shoreline near the grounded vessel, creating a greater sense of urgency to remove fuel from the MSC Baltic III.
Tar balls are globs of oil that form on the ocean surface and float to shore.
Labrador Affairs Minister Lisa Dempster wrote a letter to federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson about the ongoing threat the vessel posed to the region.
"I share the concerns of local residents about the impacts these pollutants can have on marine life and fishing grounds," Dempster wrote, urging Thompson to ensure all possible measures are being taken to speed up cleaning efforts to prevent damage to the environment.
However, accessing the area around the ship is difficult, and Lark Harbour Mayor Wade Park has requested a nearby ATV road be fixed up to allow easier access.
Lark Harbour town clerk Nicola Parker wrote in a letter that the ship's owner, Mediterranean Shipping Company, won't commit to helping build the road.
Joyce believes the decision was made due to high costs.
"The company is looking at their bottom line, their cheapest option, not the environmental concerns and the possible disaster," said Joyce in the House of Assembly.
CBC News has asked Mediterranean Shipping Company for an interview.
Headquartered in Switzerland, the company is the largest shipping line in the world and has approximately 900 vessels. Forbes ranks the company's owner, Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte, as the 42nd-richest person in the world.
Growing concern
Lark Harbour resident Melanie Joyce told CBC Radio's Newfoundland Morning the presence of tar balls in the area is alarming, and she has heard of signs of damage on the vessel.
"It's only a matter of time before it starts leaking," she said, adding that residents and harvesters are getting frustrated about the lack of action to prevent the spread of pollution.
She says a new road is essential, as it would allow them to offload fuel from land.
"Government needs to step in and make this happen" she said, adding MSC should help, too.
"They have to take responsibility of this ship before something major happens."
On April 14, FFAW president Dwan Street told CBC Radio's The Broadcast how crab and lobster harvesters are worried about the area.
"We've had some reports of seeing sheen on the water," she said. "[And] with the volume of fuel aboard the vessel, every day that vessel is still there, it's becoming more and more compromised."
According to Street, harvesters have noticed problems with the vessel's structural stability.
"We know the risk of environmental disaster there. It doesn't really take much for a significant fuel spill to occur, and then we have some really serious problems," she said.
Harvesters are also dealing with some space issues with workers taking up space on the wharfs, she says.
"Of course, we definitely understand and appreciate that the worst got to get done. But the timing is not ideal," said Street.
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With files from The Broadcast and NL Morning