A wooden fishing vessel and fibreglass boat rafted together ran aground on a reef in Square Bay the morning of June 24. The fibreglass vessel had about two feet of water in the bilge area, according to the Canadian Coast Guard, which worked with the owner to attempt to refloat the vessel that day. Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue was also involved in the response. Eventually, “the submerged vessel was refloated and some repairs had been made,” according to communications advisor Michelle Imbeau. By the evening the boats were freed from the rocks. Under Canadian law, vessel owners are responsible for damages and response costs to address marine pollution and recovery attempts, according to the Coast Guard.
