Dutch cargo ship grounds in St. Lawrence, disrupting key trade route

A Dutch cargo ship ran aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway near Montreal, blocking the route for other ships, Canadian media reported on Friday. This is an important trade route between the Atlantic and the Great Lakes.

The incident occurred on Thursday evening at approximately 5:00 PM Eastern Time, when the engines of the 138-metre-long ship Heemskerkgracht, which was heading to Spain, failed, resulting in a loss of maneuverability. The bow of the ship struck the shore.

Currently, due to the lockout at two rail companies in Canada and the associated halt in rail transport, the St. Lawrence Seaway serves as an alternative route for the export of Canadian grain among other goods. No bypass exists for the area blocked by the Dutch ship.

The inland waterway, over 3,700 kilometres long, for ocean-going ships between the Atlantic and the Great Lakes, generates $50 billion in economic activity annually and helps maintain nearly 357,000 jobs in Canada and the USA. The locks on the waterway allow ships to bypass Niagara Falls.

The operation to dislodge the ship from the bank is ongoing. Media quoted the statement of the St. Lawrence Seaway operator, Jean Aubry-Morin, who said that at the time of the accident, there were six ships on Lake Saint-Louis waiting to enter the canal. He estimated that by the time Heemskerkgracht is towed, this number could rise to 14.