Grounded sealift ship back on schedule for Nunavik, Nunavut

The Travestern oil tanker, owned by the Woodword Group of Companies, sits in Frobisher Bay July 4. It arrived late July 3 with the CCGS icebreaker Pierre Radisson. (PHOTO BY THOMAS ROHNER)

A sealift vessel, called the Anna Desgagnés, bound for Nunavik and Nunavut ran aground in the St. Lawrence July 3.

But the ship is expected to be back on course by noon July 5.

That’s according to a vice-president with the Quebec-based company that owns the ship, Groupe Desgagnés Inc.

“The Anna Desgagnés will depart [July 5] around noon to continue its voyage towards L’Isle-aux-Coudres first and then to Kangirsuk and the other destinations,” Benoit Chassé said July 4.

“The delivery schedule for Kangirsuk and the other Nunavik and Nunavut communities will not be impacted by this event,” Chassé said.

According to the company’s website, the ship should arrive in Kangirsuk July 7 and stop at five other communities before reaching Iqaluit around July 25.

Chassé said the ship ran aground early July 3 after leaving its home port of Quebec City July 2.

“The incident is under investigation, but so far the information seems to point to a failure of a motor that concerns the rotor, which controls the direction of the ship,” Chassé said.

A media contact with Transport Canada’s Quebec regional office confirmed with Nunatsiaq News July 4 that inspectors were immediately dispatched to the grounded ship July 3.

“No injuries were reported, no pollution was observed. The vessel was successfully refloated on the evening of July 3 and towed to the Port of Montreal where it remains berthed,” Lesley Husbands said.

The repaired ship is expected to be back sailing by noon July 5, Chassé said, with no impact expected on the ship’s schedule.

You can follow the ship’s schedule, and any changes to it, by going here.

The Anna Desgagnés is carrying general cargo including cars, construction materials and furniture, Chassé said.

Meanwhile in Frobisher Bay, the first vessels of the sealift season arrived late on July 3, a member of the Canadian Coast Guard posted in Iqaluit told Nunatsiaq News July 4.

The icebreaker Pierre Radisson and a Woodward Group of Companies oil tanker, The Travestern, arrived eight days earlier than the first sealift vessels arrived last year, Jean Pierre Lehnert said.