Tugs, barge arrive at BBC Georgia
grounded on the St. Lawrence River
BBC Georgia remains aground between Trois Rivières and Quebec, and suffering from water intake that has flooded the engine room and at least one of holds. Three Ocean tugs are on the scene, as well as a barge. The ship had pumps placed on board from the barge via CCG helicopter this evening. The barge will be used to hold water from the ship. It’s believed once the ship is considered secure for transit, it will be moved to Montreal. Vessel traffic is not prohibited at this time and the ship is clear outside the channel.
ORIGINAL REPORT: Late night on November 23, the cargo ship BBC Georgia, en route to Sault Ste. Marie, ON, with a stopover in Montreal, ran aground in the St. Lawrence River between Quebec City and Trois Rivière by Grondines. According to local sources, the condition of BBC Georgia is not good. The tug Ocean Aqua has arrived towing a barge with pumps that will be used to pump out water that has filled the ship’s hull. The engine room is flooded. The tugs Ocean Taiga and Ocean K. Rusby are also nearby. There are no reports of injuries.
Rene Beauchamp, Michael James Folsom , St. Lawrence Seaway Ship Watchers Network
General cargo ship BBC GEORGIA, IMO 9357224, dwt 12797, built 2008, flag Antigua, manager DELFT SCHIFFAHRT GMBH & CO KG
Winter storm takes aim at Lake Superior
Gale warnings on Lake Superior have vessels hugging the south shore of the lake Sunday morning. Wave heightsare forecast to reach 10-13 feet in some areas. Sault Ste. Marie is expected to get nearly a foot of snow between Sunday and Tuesday. AT 9 p.m. Sunday, four vessels – Joseph L Block, Saginaw, CSL Welland and CSL Laurentien – were on the hook in the lee of the Keweenaw Peninsula. See MAFOR forecast and AIS in photo gallery.
COVID-19 outbreak aboard Canadian warship forces cancellation of Great Lakes tour
An outbreak of COVID-19 aboard a Canadian warship has forced the Royal Canadian Navy to cancel the remainder of a tour of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway.
HMCS Harry DeWolf, an arctic offshore patrol ship, was in Montreal on Friday when the decision was made to close the vessel to visitors and shelve the tour. The ship’s command team issued a statement on social media saying upcoming visits to Trois-Rivières, Que., Québec City and Saguenay, Que., had to be cancelled.
The ship, which can carry between 60 and 85 crew members, was expected to return to its home port in Halifax. Earlier this month, the 103-metre ship visited Toronto, Hamilton and Kingston, Ont.
The Canadian Press
