Live operations

• The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) is taking action to assess and contain the immediate threats posed by the historic shipwreck USAT Brigadier General M.G. Zalinski, to prevent long-term damage to areas of cultural sensitivity and the marine environment.
• While the current amount of marine pollution upwelling from the shipwreck is minimal, there is a significant risk of a large release of heavy fuel as the ship’s tanks and structure continues to deteriorate.
• CCG is working closely with the Gitga’at and Gitxaala First Nations on this response. The Nations hold invaluable knowledge of the waters and lands in the area near the historic wreck and this knowledge is being incorporated into the response.
• Additionally, the CCG enlisted oil spill response specialists, safety specialists, environmental and wildlife experts, traditional ecological knowledge and local experts and others in assessing the situation. It was determined that the best course of action is to conduct oil removal operations to reduce the ongoing threat to the environment.
• Resolve Marine has been hired by the CCG to remove all of the accessible heavy fuel oil beginning in October 2024. This operation is anticipated to take several weeks, depending on weather.

Further updates will be provided as they are available and as the situation evolves.

• The Hannah Atlantic, Cape Rouge, and the Rupert Brand VI have all been successfully removed from the marine environment in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
• The site remediation and cleanup is now complete, and by the end of the operation, over 15,000 litres of contaminated water had been removed from the vessels and over 170,000 kg of steel was recycled.
• Overall, the removal and cleanup was anticipated to take approximately six months to complete, however, the completion time was accelerated due to the contractor’s additional hauling equipment used.
• CCG would like to thank the community for their cooperation avoiding the area over the summer.
• Members of the public who see a marine pollution incident or a marine hazard are encouraged to report the incident to the CCG at 1-800-565-1633.

This is the last update for this operation.

• The last of three problem vessels has been successfully removed from the marine environment in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.
• The Hannah Atlantic has been deconstructed and removed from the site.
• Work will continue over the coming weeks to completely remediate and clean the site.
• We ask the public to please continue avoiding the area while Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) personnel and contractors are on site.
• Members of the public who see a marine pollution incident or a marine hazard are encouraged to report the incident to the CCG at 1-800-565-1633.

Further updates will be provided as they are available and as work progresses.

• The second of three problem vessels has been successfully removed from the marine environment in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.
• The Cape Rouge has been deconstructed and removed from the site.
• Work will continue to safely disassemble and dispose of the Hannah Atlantic from the area and clean the site.
• We ask the public to please avoid the area due to safety concerns while Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) personnel and contractors are on site.
• Members of the public who see a marine pollution incident or a marine hazard are encouraged to report the incident to the CCG at 1-800-565-1633.

Further updates will be provided as they are available and as work progresses

• The first of three problem vessels has been successfully removed from the marine environment in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.
• The Rupert Brand VI has been deconstructed and removed from the site in multiple pieces over the last few weeks.
• Work will continue over the coming months to safely disassemble and dispose of the Hannah Atlantic and Cape Rouge vessels from the area.
• We ask the public to please avoid the area due to safety concerns while Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) personnel and contractors are on site.
• CCG thanks the community for their cooperation while work continues for this large operation.
• Members of the public who see a marine pollution incident or a marine hazard are encouraged to report the incident to the CCG at 1-800-565-1633.

Further updates will be provided as they are available and as work progresses.

• Work is underway in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia to remove three problem vessels from the marine environment.
• The Hannah Atlantic, Cape Rouge, and the Rupert Brand VI have been in the area for a number of years and all show signs of disrepair.
• This operation is expected to take approximately six months, and will include the removal of all bulk pollutants, removal of hazardous material as applicable, on-site removal of each vessel, and site remediation.
• We ask the public to please avoid the area once CCG is on site, due to safety concerns.
• Members of the public who see a marine pollution incident or a marine hazard are encouraged to report the incident to the Canadian Coast Guard at 1-800-565-1633.

Further updates will be provided as they are available and as work progresses.