Press Release: Efforts Continue to Free Grounded Canadian Ship in St. Lawrence Seaway
CLEVELAND, Ohio – A coordinated response from the U.S. Coast Guard and various partners is ongoing to rescue the Canadian-flagged Motor Vessel Tim S. Dool, which has been stranded in the St. Lawrence Seaway since November 23. The vessel, initially carrying grain, ran aground near Massena, New York, and remains unstable, mired in the riverbed outside the navigation channel.
Despite the deployment of three tugboats on Friday and an underwater survey, efforts to dislodge the vessel have proven unsuccessful thus far. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, and traffic has continued to flow, albeit at a slowed pace in the vessel’s vicinity. Lt. Phillip Gurtler of the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that there have been no incidents of oil or fuel leaks into the river.
To facilitate a potential refloating of the Dool, authorities plan to undertake a cargo removal process referred to as “lightering.” Should this operation proceed, it may necessitate brief closures of the waterway. The ship was en route to Quebec City when it became stuck on the Crysler Island Shoal, leading to a slight tilt to its port side.
The efforts to free the Dool involve collaboration among the Canadian Coast Guard, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, and the National Response Corporation. The situation surrounding the ship remains under investigation as logistics continue to be evaluated for the next phases of the salvage operation.
For further updates, reporters can contact Peter Krouse, who covers environmental issues for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, at pkrouse@cleveland.com.
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