The Canadian authorities have approved a salvage plan for the Dutch-flagged Thamesborg, which ran aground in the Franklin Strait, part of Canada’s Northwest Passage, on 6 September.
The general cargo vessel, operated by Royal Wagenborg, was en route from Asia to Baie-Comeau on Canada’s east coast carrying carbon blocks when it grounded near Prince of Wales Island. All crew members remain safe, and the ship is stable with no pollution reported.
Lightering operations, which began on 22 September, are ongoing. Cargo is being transferred to the Silver Copenhagen, a Norwegian-flagged 1B ice-class vessel capable of operating in Arctic waters. Support assets include the tug Beverly M and the icebreaker MSV Botnica, with the Canadian Coast Guard vessel CCGS Des Groseilliers on site to monitor safety and environmental protection.
The approved plan allows Royal Wagenborg to proceed with the vessel’s recovery while ensuring strict adherence to Canada’s “polluter pays principle,” which holds shipowners responsible for costs and measures taken to mitigate risks.
The incident underscores the operational risks in the Northwest Passage, where shifting ice and remote conditions complicate navigation. The cause of the grounding has not yet been determined.
