Royal Wagenborg announced the successful refloating of its vessel, Thamesborg, which had been stranded for 33 days after grounding on September 6 in the Franklin Strait near Prince of Wales Island, Canada. The ship is now set to leave the Arctic for a port of refuge. Prior to the operation, the company and T&T Salvage prepared by offloading 5,000 tons of carbon block cargo to two other vessels, Silver Copenhagen and Nunalik, to facilitate the refloating.
The Thamesborg was successfully refloated around 0600 local time on October 9, following efforts to reduce water levels in its damaged ballast tanks. The offshore support vessel Botnica provided specialized equipment during the operation, while the Canadian Coast Guard vessel Des Groseilliers monitored for potential pollution. Fortunately, the vessel was refloated without additional damage, and there were no signs of pollution. The crew of 15, along with an ice advisor, remained onboard and reported no injuries.
Following the refloating, an inspection team evaluated the hull. Once cleared, the Thamesborg is scheduled to head to Baie Comeau, Canada, on the St. Lawrence River, with an expected arrival date of October 24. Both the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Wagenborg emphasized the urgency of moving the vessel out of the Arctic before winter weather set in. Wagenborg expressed gratitude to all agencies and teams involved in the operation.
