MV Miner removal off Scaterie Island starts today

Work to remove the wreck of the MV Miner will begin today, almost three years after it ran aground, near Scaterie Island.

Truckloads of armour stone are being delivered to the site. Its the first step to build a road to the vessel so heavy machinery can begin the task of dismantling the wreck.

Julian O'Neil, of Main-a-Dieu, said it's good to see the work finally starting.

We will see massive trucks and they will be barging armour stone which will be brought out to the island of Scatarie. Now these stones are going to be used to facilitate an access road. This access road will allow the operators to break down the massive ship and what they're looking to do is break it down from the top down, he said.

The company that will remove the vessel, R.J. MacIsaac Construction, will hire 20 people to work on the project .

The firm will also hold a public meeting in early August to update people in the community.

The Miner is expected to be gone by November.

The steel will be loaded onto a barge and sold for scrap.

The project is expected to cost nearly $12 million.

The MV Miner was being towed to Turkey when it broke its line. The ocean and rocky coast have shredded the steel hull.