Desgagnes vessels in the war zone.
QUEBEC CITY – Crews of two ships of the Quebec-based shipping carrier Desgagnés are still aboard their vessels anchored in the Persian Gulf, at the heart of the crisis in Iran, but the approximately 30 sailors are in “relative security” and the strategy to alleviate instability is being constantly analyzed, according to the company, whose headquarters is in Quebec City.
Rosaire A. Desgagnés and Miena Desgagnés are the vessels that are in the Gulf, where sailing has been stopped for nearly three weeks following US and Israeli attacks. Three sailors are students of the Institut Maritime du Québec (IMQ), cadets who complete an internship at sea.
“You have to be careful at all times. Port facilities tend to be close to energy and transport centres that could be targeted. So, it’s preferable under the circumstances…to be on board a ship that is far from the shore. It’s certain that it’s relative security,” said Serge Le Guellec, Desgagnés president and general manager, on the radio program Premiere Hour. “The situation is moving and very fluid,” he added, “and can degenerate quickly, hence the juggling of a strategy that must not remain static. We need to stay on top of what’s happening.”
Could Iran possibly target ships anchored off the Strait of Hormuz? “No scenario is to be left out,” said Le Guellec. “That’s why you have to choose the [anchoring] areas well.” The ships are located on the western side of the Persian Gulf, “a little further from the action I think.”
the shipping carrier has no choice but to consider an extension of the conflict. “We thought we would have a conflict that would be resolved quickly. … We are obliged to tell ourselves, in the third week, that this scenario has fallen into the water. And we can see very well that it is very difficult to agree internationally on what needs to be implemented to be able to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in a reasonable time.”
An evacuation of the crew is not a viable or playable scenario at this stage, he said. Satellite communication has been compromised at times since the conflict erupted, but the situation has been short-term. “People are able to talk to their family, with their friends. In such circumstances, it is crucial.”
Radio-Canada via Shipspotting – Québec (Translated from French)
