St. Lawrence River Blocked: Lightering Operations Commence to Free Stranded Bulk Carrier

Lightering Operations Underway to Free Stranded Bulk Carrier

Lightening operations have commenced on a bulk carrier that ran aground in the St. Lawrence River, north of Montreal. The vessel, identified as the Federal Yamaska, has been stuck since Tuesday morning. This process involves offloading a portion of its cargo to reduce weight and facilitate refloating.

Key Takeaways

• The Federal Yamaska, carrying sugar, ran aground on August 12.
• Previous attempts to refloat the vessel were unsuccessful.
• Lightering operations began Friday morning, with an estimated 3,200 tonnes of sugar to be offloaded.
• The Canadian Coast Guard monitors pollution without reports of injuries or spills.
• The St. Lawrence River is at its lowest water level in 15 years.

Details of the Grounding and Refloating Efforts

The Federal Yamaska, a 590-foot (180-meter) vessel, ran aground on Tuesday morning. On Wednesday, five tugs were used to refloat it, but the effort proved unsuccessful. The ship is situated south of the main shipping channel. The Canadian Coast Guard confirmed that the vessel’s owner, Fednav, submitted a new salvage plan that includes lightering.

Cargo Offloading and River Conditions

Approximately 3,200 tonnes of sugar are being offloaded from the Federal Yamaska, which can move about 400 tonnes per hour. The Canadian Coast Guard is on standby with anti-pollution equipment. While the cause of the grounding is under investigation, initial reports suggest the vessel lost power and drifted into its current position, diagonal to the shipping lane. The shipping lane remains open, albeit with restrictions. Notably, the St. Lawrence River has experienced its lowest water levels in 15 years, though authorities do not believe this is the direct cause of the grounding. Restrictions are in place between Quebec and Montreal, but the vessel was reportedly compliant with loading regulations for the area.

Precedent and Ongoing Monitoring

This incident echoes a similar grounding in late December 2024, when another bulk carrier required lightering to be refloated. The Canadian Coast Guard is actively monitoring the situation to ensure no environmental impact occurs. The vessel is stable, and no injuries have been reported among the crew.

Sources

• Lightering Begins to Free Bulker Aground in St. Lawrence River, The Maritime Executive.
• Bulk carrier still stuck in St. Lawrence Seaway, Cleveland.com.
• New plan in the making to free cargo ship stuck in St. Lawrence River, CTV News.
• Second attempt to free ship stranded in St. Lawrence River set for Sunday, CBC.