Managers of Royal Wagenborg report that its general cargo vessel Thamesborg remains stable following its unexpected grounding in the Franklin Strait off Prince of Wales Island, Canada. A draft salvage plan has been submitted and is under review.
The Thamesborg ran aground in the Franklin Strait on 6 September. The Franklin Strait is an Arctic waterway in Northern Canada’s territory of Nunavut. It is located between southeastern Prince of Wales Island and the Boothia Peninsula and is part of the Northwest Passage. The cause of the grounding is as yet unknown.
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Ship damaged
According to VesselFinder, the Dutch-flagged ice-class Thamesborg was en route from Lianyungang in China to Baie Comeau in Canada. The 172.28-metre vessel was built in 2013. It is carrying a load of carbon anodes. So far, there are no injuries or pollution, but there is damage to the ship.
Wagenborg states that further inspections have again confirmed the fuel tanks and cargo holds of the ship remain intact. Some of the vessel’s ballast tanks have sustained damage as a result of the incident.
Salvage equipment en route
Following the incident, the company immediately began formulating a plan for the safe and effective refloating of the ship in close cooperation with the Canadian Coast Guard, Transport Canada, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Ontario and salvage experts.
A salvage master and naval architect have joined Thamesborg and the first salvage equipment and additional staff have arrived on site. Remaining salvage equipment and staff is underway to the site and expected to arrive within seven days. All salvage efforts are dependent on the weather and some operations have had to be delayed due to inclement weather over the weekend.
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Draft salvage plan
The Canadian Coast Guard reports that a draft salvage plan has been submitted by the owner, which is currently being reviewed by the Canadian Coast Guard and Transport Canada.
Two Canadian Coast Guard vessels are currently providing assistance to Thamesborg and continue to monitor the situation on site.
Picture: Dutch-flagged vessel MV Thamesborg pictured aground in the Franklin Strait, Nunavut, on 8 September (photo by the Canadian Coast Guard).
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