Traffic was blocked on Monday morning on the South Shore Canal of the St Lawrence Seaway after a freighter hit the canal wall and became stuck with its bow run aground, according to CBC.
The incident happened in Quebec province near Kahnawake – a reserve of the Iroquois Mohawk nation which sits across the St Lawrence from Montreal – when the Norwegian-owned Jo Spirit (6,285 dwt, built 1998), went off course and hit the wall around 3.30am.
The ship was carrying a cargo of alcoholic spirits and was destined for Cuxhaven in Germany.
Two tugboats were on the scene early on Monday afternoon to help release the vessel.
Early reports from inspectors said the Jo Spirit appeared to be intact with no evidence of fuel leakage or pollution. And no crew members were injured.
The ship’s owners, Jo Tankers, said the vessel suffered an engine failure prior to going off course.
Officers of Canada’s Transportation Safety Board (TSB) will investigate the incident.
