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The Canadian Coast Guard has given the go-ahead for work to begin salvaging the Thamesborg, a grounded freighter stuck in the Northwest Passage for weeks.
In an update on Thursday, the coast guard said a plan presented by the ship’s owner, Dutch firm Wagenborg, was “reasonable and appropriate to start salvage operations.”
Wagenborg says two salvage vessels have arrived at the scene. The Thamesborg has been aground in the Franklin Strait, between Nunavut’s mainland and Prince of Wales Island, since early September.
More: What should we learn from another Northwest Passage close call?
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This week, workers began transferring Thamesborg’s cargo to the Norwegian-flagged Silver Copenhagen, described by the coast guard as “a 1B ice-class cargo vessel that can safely operate in icy waters.”
“Cargo transfer will continue this week and the tug Beverly M is stationed nearby to assist as needed,” the statement continued.
“The MSV Botnica icebreaker is en route and scheduled to arrive for additional support on or around September 30.”
Coast guard vessel CCGS Des Groseilliers remains at the location.
“The latest inspections show that the fuel tanks and cargo holds of the ship remain intact,” Wagenborg stated.
So far, no pollution from the ship’s grounding has been reported, though experts say this represents another close call as Northwest Passage shipping increases.
