Read Authentic Ratings for the George-R-Pearkes

On December 23, 2013, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) deployed a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to investigate the ongoing oil leakage from the sunken cargo vessel MV 'Manolis L.' The incident, which highlights environmental concerns for wildlife and coastline near the Change Islands region, arose following reports of fresh oil sightings along the shoreline. The CCGS 'George R. Pearkes' stationed itself in the area during the holiday season to monitor the situation, stemming from the vessel's sinking in 1985. The wreck has been a source of pollution since last winter, but it was the recent weekend's heavy spotting that necessitated a deeper examination. In July, Coast Guard efforts included containment measures, applying a neoprene seal on a section of the hull and installing a cofferdam to capture oil from leaks. While the neoprene seal has proven effective, the ROV revealed that the cofferdam, designed to hold up to 3,200 liters of fuel, had shifted by four to five meters due to rough sea conditions. The exact volume of oil contained at the time of the shift and the amount that leaked remains unknown. Immediate actions are focused on reassessing the cofferdam’s design. The Coast Guard plans to either modify the existing system or install a new one as the 'George R. Pearkes' awaits favorable weather to pump any remaining oil from the cofferdam. Collaborations with oceanographers are underway to understand the area’s currents, equipping the team with crucial insights for the new cofferdam’s development. Despite the leakage, which continues at approximately four liters per day due to an original hull breach, its environmental impact has been managed effectively, resulting in minimal effects on the coastline thanks to natural dissipative processes.