Neoprene gaskets manage oil from sunken ship

ERJ staff report (BC)

St John’s, Canada – The Canadian Coast Guard has used weighted neoprene gaskets to manage an oil leak from a sunken bulk carrier that ran aground and sank off Fogo Island and Change Islands at Notre Dame Bay in 1985, reports The Telegram.

A Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) spokeswoman said the gaskets were being deployed to seal cracks and stop oil from escaping the Manolis L. The gaskets were held in place by industry-standard subsea bulkbags which are routinely used in drilling and pipeline operations in the offshore oil industry.

"This approach stops the oil leak and the immediate danger to the environment, fishery and animals while providing the opportunity to consider appropriate next steps," the DFO spokeswoman said.

Robert Grant of the Canadian Coast Guard environmental response team said the operation is both "complex and dangerous," considering the harsh winds and wave action off the coast in question.

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Full article from The Telegram