Bulk Carrier Grounding Shuts Saint Lawrence Seaway

A piece of the Saint Lawrence Seaway was shut down this weekend following the grounding of a Canadian-flagged bulk service.

The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) reported that the gearless bulk service MV Algoma Spirit, carrying a cargo of grain, ran aground Saturday at roughly 4:00 p.m. in Canadian waters east of the Seaway International Bridge in Cornwall, Ontario.

The grounding compelled the suspension of economic navigation for “Sector 2” of the Saint Lawrence Seaway starting at roughly 4:11 p.m.

The vessel was refloated Sunday evening at about 11:30 p.m. and was escorted by two tugs to the St.-Zotique Anchorage for additional inspection and investigation by Transport Canada.

Commercial navigation resumed at roughly 12:45 a.m. Monday, the SLSDC stated.

There had been no accidents or air pollution reported on account of the grounding.

The grounding of the MV Algoma Spirit follows the grounding of the Bahamas-flagged MV Juno final month within the neighborhood of Wellesley Island within the St. Lawrence River, New York.