Cargo Ship Grounded For Over A Month In Franklin Strait Successfully Refloated

October 10th, 2025

Image Credits: Wagenborg

A general cargo vessel stranded for more than a month in the Canadian Arctic has been successfully refloated following a complex salvage operation.

The MV Thamesborg had run aground on 6 September in the Franklin Strait, near Prince of Wales Island, and remained stuck for 33 days.

The refloating was completed at around 06:00 local time on 9 October, involving specialised vessels, equipment, and close coordination with Canadian authorities.

The operation required transferring over 5,000 tonnes of cargo-carbon blocks for industrial use, to two assisting ships, Silver Copenhagen and Nunalik, to reduce the vessel’s draft.

The offshore support vessel MSV Botnica then used specialised equipment to carefully reduce water in the damaged ballast tanks, a key step in freeing the ship.

The Canadian Coast Guard vessel Des Groseilliers remained on site during the entire operation to monitor safety and environmental risks. Officials confirmed there were no injuries among the 15 crew members and an ice advisor on board, and no pollution resulted from the grounding or refloating.

Following the successful effort, hull inspections were carried out before the vessel was cleared to proceed. The Thamesborg is now stable and has begun its journey to a port of refuge, with its AIS signal showing Baie‑Comeau, Canada, as the destination and an expected arrival date of 24 October.

The exact route will depend on weather conditions, but its ice‑class hull allows it to navigate through first‑year ice.

The company in charge of the vessel’s operation expressed gratitude to the Canadian Coast Guard, Transport Canada, salvage teams, and government agencies for their essential support.

The cause of the grounding is still under investigation, with full cooperation from the company and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

The successful refloating of the Thamesborg, completed ahead of the Arctic winter is regarded as a major achievement for rescue operations in challenging polar conditions.

Reference: Wagenborg

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