A 656-foot geared bulk carrier has been determined to have ran aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway one day after losing steering in the busy waterway near Wellesley Island, New York, the U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed.
The Hong Kong-flagged MV Federal Kivalina became disabled Tuesday after losing steering in the vicinity of Wellesley Island while carrying 23,000 metric tons of canola seeds, setting the ship adrift. The crew of the freighter subsequently dropped three anchors to slow its drift, bringing the vessel to stop about one-third of a mile from the Thousand Island Bridge.
A dive team conducted an underwater hull survey Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning and determined that the vessel was aground but stable. There are no reported injuries to the crew and no reported pollution at this time.
The vessel remains anchored and aground at the same location as of Thursday afternoon.
A salvage team is on board the freighter and has completed a review of the hull inspection, according to an update from the U.S. Coast Guard, while the USCG is reviewing the salvage plan.
Two tug boats from Montreal are en route to assist with the situation and are due to arrive Thursday afternoon.
Navigation in the St. Lawrence Seaway remains suspended until vessels can resume safe transits of the area, the coast guard update said.
All 22 crewmembers included have remained onboard the freighter throughout the ordeal.