By Canadian Press

Authorities change plan to free ship stranded in Quebec

Dec 29, 2024 | 2:47 PM

MONTREAL — The Canadian Coast Guard announced this morning that a change of strategy is underway to free the ship that ran aground on Christmas Eve on the St. Lawrence River in Quebec.

An attempt to refloat the ship using a team of tugboats that was launched on Friday has not worked, the coast guard says.

The new strategy involves transferring the ship’s cargo of corn onto a barge to reduce its weight and allow it to float again.

A plan to evacuate at least part of the cargo must be finalized today by the ship’s owner, a spokesperson for the coast guard says.

The Cyprus-flagged 185-metre bulk carrier ran aground near Verchères, Que., in the early hours of Dec. 24 following a power failure.

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The coast guard says there were no injuries, no damage to the ship’s hull, no pollution spotted in the water and that the ship is not blocking marine traffic.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2024.

The Canadian Press

<!– Photo: d4719d0d05cd8e0dc0b865199cdcc22d77894f86385e15b1a97b2d05087dffeb.jpg, Caption:

A tugboat tries to release the MV Maccoa after it ran aground in the St. Lawrence River in Vercheres, Que., Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

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