Canadian Miner

[Vox]

The aerial photo accompanying this new item
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scot ... arine.html
shows the landmarks around the site particularly well.

[fireman12]

That length of upper shipside steel plate still remaining in one piece , besides the fractured section , is correctly stated as being the top of the ballast tanks . The bottom edge being the top of the tank , and the rest up to the deck is the side tunnel area , of which there is one on each side . And that tunnel area is dry , having just the six ballast tank manhole access covers in the port and stbd sides . The tunnels were painted as well , aluminium , I believe , and were pretty dry . Only damage being sweat corrosion under the deckheads .

As well , that top part of the hull was pretty well dry on the exterior , except maybe in rough weather , and , there is a slight inward slope on that section as well , so lock and dock contact was pretty well minimal . So the steel plate had retained it`s original thickness dimensions during the life of the ship . Below that plate , though , the corrosiveness of the tanks on the inside , and the outside bare steel and related rust , made that part of the hull ripe for weather damage in the first storm that came .

[Randy S]

Interesting that the metal failure seems to follow a straight line the length of the ship. Is that the top of the ballast tanks, or is there some other structural reason why the metal seems solid above a certain point but has been blown away below that line?

Dont know for sure, but it looks as though that longitudinal line just might be located along the top of the ballast tanks. If so, the part of the hull inside the ballast tanks would be somwhat more susceptible to corrosion since it probably hasn't been totally dry in many years.

[Guest]

I'm wondering what would have the biggest impact on the environment, A dirty messy shipbreaking operation or just leaving the hulk to rot? It would appear that this thing is never going anywhere, towed or being cut up on the spot. Maybe some type of abatement of asbestoes and lead based paint could be undertaken and then let the sea deal with her? Just curious about what others are thinking and yes I know the best solution would be total removal but at what cost to the environment and government and ultimately the taxpayers of Canada.

[Engineerson]

Interesting thought on this , are the remaining Vickers class ships still here , the Montrealais and Quebecois , being red flagged for tank inspection , and / or weather restrictions , given that they are older than the Miner , albeit better maintained and painted . They`ve also spent as much time as the Miner in the lower St Lawrence grain and ore trade . If I was shore engineer reponsible for those ships with Algoma , I would have already been talking to each ships` respective Chief Engineer regarding tank inspections .

Do the other Vicker ship get exposed to side waves and hard hits like the Miner was, on the lakes. I'd think the ships even at anchor would have their nose (bow) to the wind. Still, I figure they should be inspected

[Guest]

The location is here, on the north shore of the island:
http://maps.google.com/?ll=46.034,-59.695&z=18

In the earlier news photo that has been published several times, you can see the curving trail in the background.

This was posted earlier and shows the current location of Canadian Miner.

[rt3]

Interesting that the metal failure seems to follow a straight line the length of the ship. Is that the top of the ballast tanks, or is there some other structural reason why the metal seems solid above a certain point but has been blown away below that line?

[Guest]

I tried to find the wreck on Google Earth. Apparently I don't know how to pinpoint the location. Any suggestions?

I don't know the exact Lat/Lon of the wreck, but it looks to be on the far NE tip of Scatarie island. I don't think Google updates their satellite images enough for the wreck to show up on Google Earth.

[visitor]

I tried to find the wreck on Google Earth. Apparently I don't know how to pinpoint the location. Any suggestions?

[BobG]

Actually, fireman12, Quebecois and Montrealais have had a lot more wear & tear than the Miner. When Halco still owned her, she spent three or four years laid up in Montreal while the company went through receivership and then dissolution. During that time the other two ran continuously, as I recall. Add that to their being older and I'll bet there are conversations going on about ripeness, perhaps most of all among those on board.

[fireman12]

Now the latest photo in today`s Cape Breton Post shows that not only was # 6 cargo hold compromised , but the bulkhead between it and # 5 cargo hold is gone , so probably are the double bottom tanks . And the side is fractured completely down to the opening at the stbd side .

Interesting thought on this , are the remaining Vickers class ships still here , the Montrealais and Quebecois , being red flagged for tank inspection , and / or weather restrictions , given that they are older than the Miner , albeit better maintained and painted . They`ve also spent as much time as the Miner in the lower St Lawrence grain and ore trade . If I was shore engineer reponsible for those ships with Algoma , I would have already been talking to each ships` respective Chief Engineer regarding tank inspections .

[Randy S]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Tricolor Here is address for an interesting article about salvage of a sunken car carrier in the English Channel.. A carbide encrusted wire cut the vessel into 9 sections, 3000 tons each. These sections were then hauled away. The ship carried 3,000 brand new vehicles. Probably too expensive or impractible for this ship.

I think the difference is that salvage equipment could be brought right up to the Tricolor which was sitting on its side in approximately 98 feet of water. The Miner is beached and from the maps that I have seen, Scatarie Island has docks that couldnt even begin to land any shore based equipment large enough to do the job.

[JEM]

This afternoon, the Hellas was showing 40-ish miles east of Cape Breton heading 112deg at 11+ knots.
She was reportly released once the owners posted $1.05M bond.

[Slip]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Tricolor Here is address for an interesting article about salvage of a sunken car carrier in the English Channel.. A carbide encrusted wire cut the vessel into 9 sections, 3000 tons each. These sections were then hauled away. The ship carried 3,000 brand new vehicles. Probably too expensive or impractible for this ship.

[Slip]

Just read an article in Cape Breton Post which says the Miner wont be moved till Spring, 2012. Sure wish that I lived closer, I'd have some good souvenirs. It will be very interesting to see what shape its in after winter.

[Mr Link]

Shallow water salvage via jack-up barge is becoming more and more common. But cost and the weather will obviously play a huge role in determining what methods (if any) are used.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews ... arissa.jpg

[Brent]

I am curious as to whether the rusted areas of the ship had anything to do with the collapse of the Stbd side. Seems all the damage is limited to the rusted areas. Since the hull seems to be weak in that area, would the ship have made it to her destination? If the shell plating was that weak, she appears to be a good candidate for breaking up in any kind of heavy weather encountered in the Atlantic. Another thought would be to install a temp bulkheads of wood enough to get her to deep water and let her go. Is there a heavy lift vessel large enough to get her out in maybe two or three pieces? I don't see that any remaining bilge slop would be enough to hamper the fishing industry.

[vince]

does she look like she,s broken at mid-ship as well ?

[rt3]

In this latest photo of the Miner, it looks like hatch 17 blew off now also, along with the decking between 17 & 18.

Also looks like there may be another hole opening up forward, roughly under the #6 & 7 hatches

[MN Boater]

In this latest photo of the Miner, it looks like hatch 17 blew off now also, along with the decking between 17 & 18.