A cargo vessel became stuck in the Northwest Passage over the weekend, as confirmed by the ship’s owning company. The MV Thamesborg, a freighter ship, ran aground off Prince of Wales Island in Nunavut while navigating the Franklin Strait on Saturday. Fortunately, there were no injuries to the crew, and no leaks have been detected, according to Wagenborg, the Dutch company in charge of the vessel.
Wagenborg reported that an initial assessment by the Thamesborg crew revealed damage to the ship’s hull and ballast tanks, although the vessel remains stable where it is grounded. The freighter was transporting industrial carbon blocks from Asia to Baie-Comeau, Quebec, at the time of the grounding incident.
The Canadian Coast Guard has dispatched two ships to aid the stranded crew. Additionally, a spokesperson for the Coast Guard mentioned in an email to CBC News that they are providing support with a rescue craft and a helicopter. The Coast Guard reported that the vessel has experienced flooding in several ballast tanks, but there has been no leakage in the fuel tanks or cargo hold.
The cause of the grounding remains unknown, and Wagenborg has stated that an investigation will be conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.