Since Christmas Eve, a ship has been stationary on the St. Lawrence River due to a widespread power outage of unknown cause. On board, a crew of around twenty people is still there.
Posted at 6:23 p.m.
The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) was informed of the incident at approximately 1:15 a.m. on December 24.
“According to the information received, there are no injuries on board, no damage to the hull of the ship and no pollution observed,” explained Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in an email sent Thursday afternoon to The Press.
Later in the evening, generators, heating systems and other supplies were delivered to the crew of twenty. Shortly afterwards, electricity was restored on board. A CCG helicopter was also deployed to monitor the situation, but also to confirm the absence of pollution, it was specified in the email.
The development of a plan to refloat the ship is underway, the communication continues. “Representatives of the ship and other experts boarded the MV MACCOA [navire] on December 25 to help assess the situation,” the government agency explained. But it is still too early to determine when a bailout attempt will take place, he added.
As the incident occurred in the middle of the holiday season, the operation is a little more complex, because the GCC specified that it had to combine the availability of the organization’s various partners able to remedy the situation.
As of Thursday, Fisheries and Oceans Canada assures that the crew on board is in good health, and that frequent aerial overflights still confirm the absence of pollution. “The position of the stranded ship has no impact on maritime traffic; however, a slow speed advisory for vessels passing nearby is in place in the area,” the organization concluded.
Canada
