The Canadian bulker Tim S. Dool (28,471 dwt) has been stuck the St Lawrence River southwest of Montreal for more than a week. Several efforts to free the vessel failed.
The bulker, which has a capacity for over 28,000 metric tons is loaded with Canadian wheat and went aground on the river at midday on 23 November. There was no significant hull damage, pollution or water ingress.
The crew aboard the vessel did not report any injuries, but the ship was firmly stuck on the US side of the river near Massena, New York. The vessel is stranded outside the navigation channel, and the Seaway has continued to operate normally with no interruptions to traffic.
The ship’s crew tried to free their vessel, but the ship, which was built in 1967 and is operated by Algoma Central Corporation on the Great Lakes, remained stuck.
The US Coast Guard, Canadian Coast Guard, the Great Lakes and St Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation and the National Response Corporation worked together to complete an underwater survey to assess the feasibility of safely pulling the vessel free.
Three tugs from Quebec completed the two-day trip, and on 29 November 2024 tried to refloat the bulker. But Tim S. Dool still remained fast.
The US Coast Guard and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation report plans are being made to remove part of its cargo to lighten the ship before another attempt to refloat it is made. Barges will have to be brought along the river for the lightering effort which is expected to take several days.
For now, the vessel has become a local tourist attraction with river watches enjoying a rare view of a Great Lakes bulker stuck.
