Cargo Ship Runs Aground On St. Lawrence Seaway Near Montreal Blocking Maritime Traffic

A part of the St. Lawrence Seaway is blocked after a cargo vessel ran aground south of Montreal due to mechanical failure.

The accident occurred on Thursday evening, blocking maritime traffic along the passage close to the Mohawk territory of Kahnawake.

The Dutch ship Heemskerkgraacht was on its way to Spain and was turning along Lake Saint-Louis to go back to Montreal when its engine stopped working and it moved near the riverbank and got stuck.

There are plans to move the ship by noon today and so far 6 ships have been affected due to the blockage on the South Shore Canal. These ships are headed to Lake Saint-Louis or the St. Lawrence River near Montreal Port.

The 138 m ship was loaded with scrap metal however fortunately it did not pose an environmental risk and no injuries were reported.

The blockage has complicated the export situation, as the maritime highway was vital for shipping grain. The situation is tense given the ongoing railway labour dispute.

The ship moved downstream after losing power, per Eric Esclamadon, deputy superintendent of the marine environmental response team with the Canadian Coast Guard.

It struck the canal’s south embankment and then ran aground on its northern side, blocking navigation in that direction.

The ship has not suffered any damage and the crew members are monitoring it closely. Water has not infiltrated the vessel and there are no oil leaks too, which was checked thoroughly using drones by the Coast Guard.

The canal is a vital link for ships sailing between the Great Lakes and the Gulf of St.Lawrence and there is no alternative trade route around the canal.

Lloyd Phillips, commissioner of public safety for the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, said the first responders reached the site to assess the situation after the vessel ran aground.

Safety is the top priority since the Kahnawake hospital lies on the canal bank and people are afraid of a ship disaster since many ships visit the canal daily.

Fortunately, the situation is under control and worse was averted. The ship is intact and is not carrying hazardous cargo.

Landon Goodleaf, from the Kahnawake Marina, saw the incident happen.

“We heard a ‘bang, bang, bang’ and it was ripping along the side of the shore,” he said. “It was unreal. You don’t see that every day, a big ship losing control.”

Watch this video for more:

Video Credits: CBC

Reference: Global News, CBC

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