Dutch Cargo Ship Thamesborg Grounds in Canadian Arctic

The Thamesborg, a 12-year-old Dutch general cargo vessel of 21,359 dwt, ran aground in the Canadian Arctic over the weekend. The incident occurred as the ship navigated the remote Franklin Strait, with Canadian authorities responding promptly to the situation.

Around midnight UTC, the ice-class freighter, en route from Lianyungang, China, to Baie-Comeau, Quebec, became stuck near Prince of Wales Island. All crew members are reported safe, and no pollution has been detected. The coast guard confirmed that while fuel tanks and cargo holds remain secure, several ballast tanks sustained damage.

Within nine hours, the Canadian Coast Guard’s icebreaking buoy tender CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier arrived on scene, with an additional icebreaker expected to join today.

Salvage specialists are now evaluating the vessel’s condition and planning a refloating operation, though no timeline has been set for the effort.

The Franklin Strait, part of Nunavut in northern Canada, is named after English explorer Sir John Franklin, who famously vanished during his ill-fated Arctic expedition in the mid-19th century.