A general-cargo vessel has reached its eastern Canadian destination following a ten-week voyage that began with a grounding in the Arctic’s Northwest Passage, maritime authorities report.
The ship departed from East Asia in late September, aiming to transit via the Northern Sea Route, but ran aground mid-October in the Franklin Strait. It was refloated on 8 October and, escorted by an icebreaker and tug, navigated through Baffin Bay, Davis Strait and the St. Lawrence River before reaching the receiving port on 23 October.
During the complex salvage operation, parts of the cargo were transferred at sea to two assisting vessels. Authorities confirmed the incident concluded without pollution or injury. An investigation by the national transportation safety agency is underway, with an interim report expected within 12 months.
The voyage illustrates both the promise and operational challenge of the Arctic shipping corridor. While the Northern Sea Route offers a significant time-advantage over traditional passages—20 days to reach Europe in a comparable recent voyage compared with 40 to 50 days via the Suez Canal or Cape of Good Hope—navigational risk remains elevated. Experts have noted that the grounded vessel deviated east of a recognised route and may have struck a previously unmapped shoal.
The operator now plans repairs at a designated shipyard and confirms the vessel’s own power was used for the final leg into port.
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Source: gCaptain
