Three weeks and three tugs later, the Tim S Dool is back in the water. The Canadian registered bulk carrier ran aground in late November. Since then, work has been underway to lighten the ship’s load. Now, it has floated free and has been anchored for inspection.
The grounding in the St Lawrence River, of the laker Tim S Dool (pictured above in happier circumstances), never developed into an ‘Ever Given’ calamity. However, the inconvenience and not inconsiderable expense of having a bulk carrier grounded in full view of the St Lawrence Seaway shipping lanes is over. For the owners, Algoma Central Corporation, attention can now turn to recommissioning the 57-year-old vessel.
Ship now at anchor
In the afternoon (local time) of 23 November, the freighter Tim S Dool, ran aground in the St Lawrence River which marks the border between Canada and the USA. The river is part of the seaway that connects the Great Lakes with the Atlantic. The 225-metre-long ship was carrying a load of 30,000 tonnes of grain. The grounding, although a major incident, did not block the shipping lanes. Memories of the Suez Canal blockage by the Taiwanese container ship Ever Given were evoked, but not re-enacted.
The complicated (and expensive) salvage operation had involved an unsuccessful attempt to haul the ship free on 29 November. After that, a complex ‘at sea’ unloading to barges was carried out between 12 and 15 December. The lightened ship successfully refloated on 16 December. Four barges, three tugs, possibly two cranes and one ship refloated, just in time for Christmas. Local reports say the vessel is now at Wilson Hill Anchorage, on the American (south) side of the river.
Complicated route
The St Lawrence River, also commonly referred to as the Seaway, is studded with islands, and the shipping lanes are relatively narrow in comparison to the width of the waterway. Vessels using the route are required to make multiple course adjustments. At the time of the grounding, on Crystal Shoal, the owners confirmed that there were no injuries, no environmental impact, and the vessel was not taking on water.
The 17,800-tonne ship was commissioned in 1967, from a Canadian yard in Saint John. It was launched as the “Senneville” and later renamed “Algoville” when the ship transferred to the current owners, Algoma Central Corporation. The owners changed to the current name in 2008. Necessary inspections are planned while the vessel is at anchor off the island of Wilson Hill.