Update on Thamesborg Still Aground in the the Northwest Passage

The Thamesborg, an “ice-strengthened” Dutch-flagged vessel operated by global shipping firm Wagenborg, came to grief in the Franklin Strait, which lies between Prince of Wales Island and the Nunavut mainland.

Canadian Coast Guard light icebreaker Sir Wilfrid Laurier is understood to be alongside the Thamesborg offering assistance.

Search and rescue officials based at Trenton, Ontario had earlier said 16 people were on board.

In a statement to Cabin Radio on Sunday morning, Wagenborg confirmed the Thamesborg was the vessel involved and said it had arranged salvage assistance.

“There are no injuries to crew and no pollution occurred as a result of the incident. Fuel tanks of the vessel and its cargo holds are all intact,” Wagenborg stated.

“Crew of Thamesborg are currently making a further assessment of potential damage to the ship which remains aground in a stable condition.”

Wagenborg confirmed the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier had arrived at the scene and said salvage experts were “discussing further steps for the safe refloating of the vessel.”

The company said the ship, which was heading from China to the Quebec port of Baie-Comeau, has a cargo of “carbon blocks for industrial use” on board.

Second coast guard icebreaker en route.

On Sunday afternoon, the Canadian Coast Guard told Cabin Radio the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier was providing assistance through a fast rescue craft and helicopter. The CCGS Jean Goodwill, a medium-class icebreaker, is expected to arrive at the scene on Monday.

“The vessel has flooded in multiple ballast tanks, though no flooding in any of its fuel tanks or its cargo hold,” the Canadian Coast Guard stated. “There are no injuries or pollution.”

The coast guard said the vessel owner is responsible for the cost of addressing what happens next, including any “hazard-related costs like cleanup or repairs and any remediation action taken.”

Trenton’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre said on Sunday afternoon that the Miena Desgagnes, a second commercial vessel initially tasked with responding to Thamesborg’s predicament, has now been cleared to continue on its way.

“The vessel that ran aground appears to be stable, and has remained so through several changes of tide. While CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier will remain on scene for the short term, the search-and-rescue aspect of this situation is, for now, resolved,” a JRCC spokesperson stated.

Source: Cabin Radio – Ollie Williams Via Facebook

Sept. 7, 2025

Kindly submitted by Janey Anderson at Ship Junkies