Cargo ship runs aground near Montreal following mechanical failure, blocking marine traffic
6 ships will have to be anchored due to blocked canal
A cargo ship has run aground near Kahnawà:ke on Montreal's South Shore following a mechanical failure, as reported by the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation.
Jean Aubry-Morin, a spokesperson for the corporation, stated that efforts are underway to get the vessel moving again by noon tomorrow. The blockage on the South Shore canal has affected six other ships, which are now being directed to anchor either in Lake Saint-Louis or the St. Lawrence River near the port of Montreal.
The Dutch vessel, Heemskerkgracht, which was en route to Spain, encountered engine failure while turning on Lake Saint-Louis to head back toward Montreal. As a result, the ship's bow became lodged on the riverbank, causing it to get stuck.
The Heemskerkgracht is a 138-metre cargo ship transporting scrap metal.
Aubry-Morin described the incident as "unfortunate" but confirmed that it poses no environmental threat and that no injuries have been reported.
The blockage has created complications for Canadian exports, according to Aubry-Morin. He explained that "the marine highway was the fallback position for exporting grain" due to the ongoing railway labor dispute, which has halted freight traffic since Thursday.
"Many cargos have been redirected to the inland marine highway, so time is of the essence for us," he added.
Once freed from the riverbank, the vessel will be taken to a pier for inspection.
