Cargo Ship Finally Docks In Canada After Month-Long Grounding In Franklin Strait

Dutch shipping company Wagenborg has confirmed that its general cargo vessel, MV Thamesborg, has safely arrived at the port of Baie Comeau, Canada on October 23, 2025.

The vessel is now preparing to unload its remaining cargo before undergoing repairs at a shipyard yet to be decided. The vessel ran aground while navigating the Northwest Passage, a route that serves as a shortcut between Asia and North America.

The grounding occurred on September 6 while Thamesborg was transporting carbon blocks from China to Baie-Comeau, Quebec.

The vessel, which has ice-class certification, became immobilised after running aground. All 16 people on board, including 15 crew members and a Canadian ice pilot, escaped without injury.

The Thamesborg was successfully refloated on 8 October, more than a month after it ran aground in the Franklin Strait, off Prince of Wales Island, in early September.

The salvage operation was described as complex and involved the transfer of part of the vessel’s cargo to two assisting ships, the Nunalik and Silver Copenhagen, to reduce the ship’s weight before refloating.

The Silver Copenhagen reached Baie Comeau two days ahead of the rest of the convoy, where it began unloading its cargo on 25 October before departing the port.

According to Wagenborg, the incident caused no pollution or injuries, a fact also confirmed by the Canadian Coast Guard in its final update.

Photos taken upon arrival at Baie Comeau show the ship operating under its own power, while AIS data indicates that it is currently anchored close to shore, awaiting unloading.

The salvage operation involved extensive coordination between multiple agencies, including the Canadian Coast Guard, Transport Canada, and specialised salvage teams.

Wagenborg publicly expressed its gratitude to all those who contributed to the successful recovery and safe transit of the vessel. After being refloated, the Thamesborg was escorted out of Arctic waters by the icebreaker Botnica and the tugboat Beverly M I.

The convoy spent nearly two weeks navigating through Baffin Bay, the Davis Strait, and into the St. Lawrence River before finally reaching Baie Comeau in eastern Canada.

The voyage, which was initially expected to take three to four weeks, eventually lasted over two months due to the grounding and recovery efforts.

The cause of the grounding remains under investigation. Wagenborg stated that the probe is being conducted in full cooperation with Canadian authorities, including the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB). An interim TSB report is expected within the next 12 months.

Some Arctic shipping experts have suggested that the vessel might have taken an unusual route through Franklin Strait, east of the established navigation corridor, where it may have struck an uncharted underwater shoal. However, the exact cause will only be confirmed once the investigation concludes.

Reference: wagenborg

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