Question Period Note: Environmental Response: M/V Cormorant

Environmental Response: M/V Cormorant

The Cormorant was assessed and was determined to pose a grave and imminent threat of pollution. The Coast Guard then took action to remediate this threat.

Following a Request for Proposals to remove the Cormorant, a contract was awarded to permanently eliminate the threat of pollution posed by the vessel. The Cormorant removal operation was completed on May 10, 2021, in Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia.

Responsive to the Submersible only
The submersible was extracted from the Cormorant as part of the vessel removal operations and is being held at a Coast Guard facility pending next steps regarding its sale, transfer or disposal.

• In 2015, considering the threat posed by the vessel, the Coast Guard took necessary action to refloat and stabilize the M/V Cormorant. Since that time the Coast Guard has not had care or custody of the vessel and is not in a position to speculate on any changes to the vessel.
• A technical assessment of the ship was completed in late 2019, concluding that the vessel posed a grave and immediate threat of pollution. Additionally, the assessment concluded that there has been no ongoing maintenance on the vessel, and mooring lines were deteriorating.
• The Port of Bridgewater and a numbered company agreed to assume ownership of the Cormorant and this was accepted by the Federal Court in a consent judgement dated November 8, 2019.
• The Coast Guard’s Environmental Response Team and equipment arrived on November 30, 2019 to commence Phase 1 operations. As a result of the Phase 1 operations, approximately 19,000 litres of oily bilge water were removed from the hull and machinery spaces on board the vessel, approximately 13,000 liters of contaminated water from the accommodation spaces onboard the vessel that had down flooded from the upper decks, and 5,300 litres of oil from various tanks.
• On March 6, 2020, the Coast Guard issued a 21-day public notice indicating the Minister’s and Coast Guard’s intention to address the threat of pollution posed by the vessel which may include actions up to disposal of the vessel. The notice directed anyone with liens or other interests in the vessel, or questions to contact the Coast Guard’s Environmental Response Unit.
• A tender notice was publicly posted on June 30, 2020 to address operations for phase 2, including removal of the remaining bulk pollutants; create a tow plan to move the vessel to a recycling facility; and finally, tow and recycle the vessel to permanently eliminate the threat of pollution.
• On July 31, 2020, the Port of Bridgewater and its President, Richard Welsford, filed a statement of claim against the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Bernadette Jordan and Canada with the Federal Court to stop the process of disposing of the Cormorant.
• On November 8, 2020, the Federal Court dismissed the interim injunction filed by the vessel owner.
• Due to the vessel posing a grave and imminent threat of pollution, Coast Guard advanced the operation with Phase 2 operations.
• Phase 2 operations included; gas freeing the vessel to make it safe for access, determining confined space requirements on board the vessel, stabilize the vessel, remove bulk pollutants, address stability issues, prepare for tow, tow to the recycling facility, remove remaining pollutants from the vessel and dismantle the vessel to ensure the pollution threat is permanently eliminated.
• Throughout Phase 2 operations, approximately 486,660 litres of Petroleum/Oils/Lubricants (POLS) and contaminated water were removed from the vessel.
• Tow operations commenced on November 18, 2020, in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. The vessel was towed to its final destination in Sheet Harbour, NS, where it was dismantled and removed from the marine environment.
• Phase 2 operations were completed on May 10, 2021, including the dismantling of the vessel to remove residual pollution.
• On board the Cormorant was a diving submersible that has generated public interest due to its historical value.
• The submersible was extracted from the Cormorant as part of the vessel removal operations by the contractor and is being held at a Coast Guard facility in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia pending next steps regarding its sale, transfer or disposal.
• Representatives of the Canadian Naval Divers have written to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard to convey their desire to acquire the submersible for historical purposes. After careful consideration of all legal responsibilities, Coast Guard decided to publicly advertise and sell the submersible from the Cormorant and hold the proceeds in escrow until the Federal Court is engaged to determine next steps with the funds.
• Due to ongoing litigation between the owner of the Cormorant and the Government of Canada regarding the dismantlement of the Cormorant and the sale of the submersible, it is advisable to limit public responses to the status and next steps regarding the disposal of the submersible.

None