The Cypriot ship MV Maccoawhich ran aground on Christmas Eve on the St. Lawrence River in the Verchères sector, was finally freed after two weeks.
Posted at 12:56 p.m.
Authorities completed the unloading of the ship’s corn cargo overnight from Monday to Tuesday, so that a new attempt to refloat the ship could begin in the morning.
A first operation to free the ship, using three tugboats, failed at the end of December. The operation consisted of using the jets of water produced by the propellers of the tugboats to remove the sediments accumulated along the wall of the boat.
Since this attempt had been unsuccessful, the authorities undertook to lighten the ship by removing some 3,000 tonnes of its cargo of corn. Around 1,250 tonnes of corn were removed from the boat and placed in a first barge on Monday, while the loading of a second barge was completed overnight from Monday to Tuesday.
The MV Maccoa is now escorted by tugboats to Sorel-Tracy where it will be inspected. Subsequently, its cargo will be put back on board and it will be able to return to Europe.
The MV Maccoa was stranded in the Verchères sector, in Montérégie, on December 24, due to a widespread power outage, the origin of which is not yet known.
The second bailout attempt was due to take place last week. However, it was postponed due to the delay in the arrival of the two barges.
The crew members were still on board the MV Maccoa Tuesday morning. They were doing well and they had access to all the necessary services, assured Monday Éric Esclamadon, who is acting superintendent of the Environmental Intervention and Maritime Hazards program for the Canadian Coast Guard. None of them were injured.
Canada
