Thamesborg runs aground in Canada’s Northwest Passage
The Dutch-flagged cargo ship Thamesborg ran aground in Franklin Strait, located between Prince of Wales Island and the Nunavut mainland in Canada. The 173-meter ice-class vessel is operated by Wagenborg.
Incident details
The grounding occurred on Saturday while the ship was en route from China to the port of Baie-Comeau (St. Lawrence River, Canada). Thamesborg departed from Lianyungang, China, in mid-August and was scheduled to arrive in Canada on September 15.
The Canadian Coast Guard dispatched the light icebreaker Sir Wilfrid Laurier to the site, while the commercial vessel Miena Desgagnes also headed to assist.
Situation on board
According to Wagenborg, the 16 crew members are safe. The ship’s fuel tanks and cargo holds remain intact, and no fuel leakage has been detected.
Background
The Northwest Passage is an Arctic sea route along the northern coast of North America, passing through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, offering the shortest maritime link between northern Europe and Asia via the Arctic Ocean.
