Posted on April 29, 2026
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An overturned dredge off Prince Edward Island’s northeastern shore that had been blocking a harbour channel has finally been righted and moved from a sand bar, according to officials with the Department of National Defence.
The department, which oversees the coast guard, said in an email that the vessel was removed from the sand bar on April 27 but remained near shore in the North Lake area. Officials previously told CBC News that the small dredging barge overturned on April 17 while it was being towed by another vessel.
There were no injuries, and the incident was reported to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.
“An assessment was conducted by the Canadian Coast Guard and included an aerial surveillance flight,” the statement reads. “The results of this assessment indicated that there was no pollution observed in the area.”
Officials with North Lake’s harbour authority previously told CBC News the dredge was being towed from Tignish to East Point earlier this month when it took on water and flipped, eventually ending up just outside the harbour.
Its owner hired a company to flip the dredge, but cables snapped during the process.
There were concerns that debris from the dredge could get caught in fishing gear, or that it could move and block the entrance to the harbour.
The dredge’s owner arranged for it to be righted, the DND statement says, which involved “engaging divers and heavy machinery” while also waiting for a proper window with weather and tides.
The dredge was righted April 24 with the Canadian Coast Guard on site.
Aerial surveillance took place the same day, according to the statement, and less than one litre of a “light non-recoverable sheen” was seen, “which is expected to disperse naturally.”
“The Canadian Coast Guard’s role in any incident involving a threat of pollution or hazards to the marine environment is to ensure an appropriate response,” the statement reads.
“In this case, the vessel owner was engaged and responded appropriately. The vessel has been removed.”
Fisheries and Oceans Canada said in a statement that dredging operations in North Lake are ongoing in preparation for setting day in Lobster Fishing Area 24.
The opening day of lobster fishing in LFA 24 — which includes P.E.I.’s North Shore, roughly between North Cape and East Point — is set for Tuesday.
Officials with the harbour authority told CBC News that setting day in North Lake would go ahead Tuesday morning as normal.
