18,000 litres of diesel found on MV Miner, province says

Nova Scotia's transportation minister says 18,000 litres of diesel fuel has been removed from a derelict ship stranded off Cape Breton.

Geoff MacLellan says the fuel was found by the company that is removing the wreck of the MV Miner from Scatarie Island, a provincially protected wilderness area.

MacLellan says the fuel was found in tanks in one area of the vessel and has been removed safely.

On Tuesday, MacLellan said federal reports had estimated there was no fuel left on the bulk carrier and only 6.6 tonnes of asbestos, but the company found 30 tonnes of the carcinogenic material.

MacLellan says information on the amount of materials that have been removed is being forwarded to Transport Canada as he tries to make a case for federal assistance.

He says he has not received a response to date from federal officials.