MV Miner salvage permit extended

Another three months has been set aside for the salvage of a ship grounded off Cape Breton.

On Friday, the Nova Scotia government extended provincial permits required for the salvage of the MV Miner, the 230-metre grounded freighter.

The former Great Lakes ship has been stranded — and slowly breaking up — off the coast of Scatarie Island, Cape Breton since breaking a tow line in September 2011.

The derelict vessel was on its way to Turkey to be taken apart for scrap.

The salvage permit expired Aug. 31, 2012, but both Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources and the Environment Department extended the salvage permits until December. They also approved the attached work plans.

The company hired to dismantle the wreck, Bennington Group of New York, says it will cut the ship apart and remove the pieces by barge.

Earlier on Friday, the NDP's federal transport critic Olivia Chow held a news conference on the Halifax waterfront accusing the federal government of not doing enough to get the work done.  

Transport Canada released an official statement in response to Chow's comments Friday morning.

"This project does not require any federal approval. Nova Scotia has made a contract with Bennington Group. We encourage them to move forward as quickly as possible."