The cleanup of the wrecked MV Miner off Scatarie Island, N.S., has missed yet another target date.

The vessel was supposed to be completely removed by the end of April. The community of Main-A-Dieu has been lobbying to have the wreckage cleaned up for more than three years.

“It’s funny, I can’t imagine a day not fighting to have that ship removed from the island,” said community development association vice president Amanda MacDougall. “To actually have it wrapping up is exciting. It’s been a long, hard road.”

The ship ran aground on Scatarie Island in September 2011 after a tow line snapped in rough seas. It was in transit to Turkey.

The wreckage was originally scheduled to be removed by November 1, 2014, but the discovery of additional asbestos and fuel on board caused a delay.

The final phase of the cleanup was then rescheduled to April 30, 2015, but it has not been completed.

“We were focused at the end of April to be at a point where we could give a timeline with respect to the fishing season,” said Nova Scotia Transportation Minister Geoff MacLellan.

“Certainly the job isn’t 100 per cent complete, but we’re at the point now where we’re making the final cuts and pulling in the last remaining engines, which is a real good sign.”

The total cost of the cleanup will be more than $12 million. Federal Transport Minister Lisa Raitt has said her department will not be helping with the cost.

“Quite frankly, it’s the fault of the federal government. I’m not saying they had intentionally put the boat there, but if due diligence had been done in the first steps – the permit being issued, the vessel being secured with a green passport – none of this would have happened,” MacDougall said.

MacLellan said Saturday he’s still hopeful that federal assistance will come.

“The additional asbestos and diesel caused a significant challenge with logistics, timeline, equipment and expense,” MacLellan said. “So this was information we got directly from the federal government. When we have the number finalized we will be re-engaging with the feds.”

MacLellan said the next challenge in the cleanup will be to avoid interfering with the lobster season, which begins May 15. It’s still unclear whether the ship will be gone by then.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kyle Moore