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.
Updated at 10:32 a.m.
Three days after the MV ship stopped MACCOAa first refloating attempt will take place around 11 a.m. on December 27, Fisheries and Oceans Canada confirmed by email this morning.
The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) has indicated that an officer from its Environmental Response and Marine Hazards team will be on the vessel. Three tugboats from Groupe Océan will also assist in the efforts to refloat the boat.
Operations will also be monitored using drones and a helicopter, weather conditions permitting.
The CCG had been informed of a widespread power outage on the ship at around 1:15 a.m. on the night of 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,” the organization assured. The ship, a bulk carrier 185 meters long and 24 meters wide, was heading to Waterford, Ireland, according to the global ship tracking intelligence site.
On the evening of December 24, 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 next day, several experts boarded the ship to help develop a refloating plan. 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.
On Thursday, Fisheries and Oceans Canada assured that the crew on board is doing well, and that frequent aerial overflights still confirmed 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.
