Three members of a coast guard environmental response team arrived from Vancouver Tuesday to remove substances from the Lord Selkirk II ship near Selkirk, Man. The B.C. team found nearly six feet (183 cm) of ice filling the main level of the vessel, which has slowed clean up work.
City officials have repeatedly raised worries over substances leaking into the water from the ship.
Randy Farrell, an environmental response specialist, said the team plans to separate oil and then have an environmental team take it away.
Work stalled Friday, however, until the ice melts.
Still, Selkirk's mayor appreciates the work, even at glacial speed.
“This is more progress than we've seen in the last 23 years,” said Larry Johannson.
He says they've been trying to get the American owner to remove the ship for years.
Recent water samples found toxic chemicals in and around the boat.
With federal approval to send in the B.C. coast guard, the clean-up has begun. The question now is who will foot the bill?
“This shouldn't be where the city of Selkirk's taxpayer's money should go,” said Johannson.
But the ship's owner has been difficult to track down, and federal and provincial governments haven't guaranteed any cash.
Aside from the coast guard team's work, costs will also include an environmental team clean-up and a crew to dismantle the ship.
For now, a boom surrounding the ship will keep any leaking fluids from contaminating the water during the melt.
- with a report from Alesia Fieldberg
