According to foreign media reports, as more equipment arrives and the weight reduction work for the “Thamesborg” is completed, Royal Wagenborg and the Canadian Coast Guard have reported that floating crane operations will be scheduled for this week. While all teams are fully advancing the safe recovery operation, they are also racing against time to complete the task before the onset of harsh winter weather.
It is reported that 15 crew members and one ice advisor remain on board. There are currently no reports of pollution, and the rescue operation has entered its fifth week.
On September 6, the “Thamesborg” ran aground in a remote part of the Canadian Arctic while it was transiting through the Franklin Strait near Prince Bay Island in Nunavut, Canada. The ship’s fuel tanks and cargo holds remain intact, although several ballast water tanks were damaged.
In the first phase of the salvage operation, approximately 4,000 tons of cargo—carbon blocks for industrial use—were transferred from the “Thamesborg” to two other vessels that came to assist, the “Silver Copenhagen” and the “Nulavik”.
The ship’s operator, Royal Wagenborg, reported that this move aimed to lighten the draft of the stranded vessel, and more cargo could be removed if the operation proved unsuccessful.
On October 3, the offshore support vessel MSV Botnica arrived on site from Europe, carrying additional equipment and personnel to assist in the rescue operation. The vessel stopped to replenish more supplies and provisions en route to the Arctic. This ship is capable of assisting with tasks such as escort, towing, or icebreaking if necessary.
A challenge highlighted during a briefing on October 6 was the weather conditions in the area. Representatives from Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Canadian Ice Service noted that the region has begun to enter the storm season. They stated that strong winds are present near the incident site, but winds are expected to weaken early in the week. Strong winds and snowfall are forecast for later in the week, although the Canadian Ice Service pointed out that the thickest ice is located west of the incident site.
The Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Des Groseilliers remains on site, overseeing and providing weather and ice forecasts. Daily observation work varies depending on weather conditions, and T&T Salvage has been retrained by Wagenborg to perform this mission. The Coast Guard also used crew rotation opportunities to deliver more supplies and professionals to the area.
Wagenborg noted that the vessel has an ice-class hull. This week’s operations will reduce the amount of water that flooded into the empty ballast tanks when the ship grounded, in an effort to refloat the vessel. If this operation is successful, the ship will be inspected to determine the extent of the damage, while a port of refuge is being identified. The goal is for the vessel to sail under its own power, but assistance will be provided if needed. The route out of the Arctic is still under discussion and will be determined based on weather and ice conditions.
The company stated that if the vessel cannot be refloated before winter arrives and ice formation prevents the vessel’s evacuation, they have contingency plans in place. However, the current focus remains on refloating the vessel, and they are confident that the “Thamesborg” can be moved before恶劣 conditions prevent it from leaving the area. The timing of this week’s refloating operation and the completion of the removal work depend on favorable weather and sea conditions.
Canadian law stipulates that shipowners must pay for salvage costs, as well as repair costs and compensation for environmental damage. A spokesperson for the company reiterated that Royal Wagenborg has comprehensive marine industry insurance for all its vessels, including P&I insurance and hull & machinery insurance, and is “confident that these industry safeguards will function as intended in this incident.”
Wagenborg emphasized that since 2016, it has successfully completed over 50 commercial transits through the Northwest Passage. The company is cooperating with the relevant authorities in the investigation and expects to learn lessons from this incident. The company remains committed to the Arctic as an important maritime route, stating that a single incident will not change its overall operations.
Compiled by Shipping Online.
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