Thamesborg grounding update: Salvage experts en route; Arctic mapping context

A massive Dutch cargo ship Thamesborg remains aground in the Northwest Passage, monitored by two Canadian icebreakers as authorities continue to investigate what went wrong.

The incident took place on Sept 6 as the ship transited Franklin Strait in Canada’s Arctic archipelago, in an area not charted to modern standards.

It’s not unusual to have charts of various detail in Canada’s Arctic archipelago.

As of March 2025, only 18 percent of Canada’s Arctic waters have been mapped with up-to-date technology.

Historically, much of the region was closed off by ice for most of the year, and the charts that did exist were made before the latest modern mapping technology was available.

Climate change has opened more of these waters to shipping, but they remain remote and difficult to reach, with only a short season when survey crews can work.

During these windows, the Canadian Hydrographic Service — the federal agency that maps Canada’s waters — focuses on busy shipping corridors and areas near Arctic communities.

“Over the last two decades, the region of the Franklin Strait has been surveyed by the Canadian Hydrographic Service at Fisheries and Oceans Canada using modern multi-beam sonars, focusing on the proposed low-impact corridor in the strait,” a Canadian Coast Guard spokesperson said in response to emailed questions from Eye on the Arctic.

“Survey data has varying quality in the Arctic. Survey data for the area of the grounded vessel is not up to modern survey standards,” the agency said, noting this is depicted on available charts.

However, the available navigation charts and guides for Franklin Strait where the vessel did go around do show where known risks to ships have been detected.

“These products include information on the known hazards to navigation in the area, such as a reported shoal in the vicinity of the vessel grounding,” the Coast Guard said.

“This information is communicated to mariners following international standards for navigation products.”

The Coast Guard stressed the cause of the grounding has not been determined, and it is not known if mapping or any other factor played a role

Air and underwater robot inspections of vessel completed 

Canadian Coast Guard officials say there is still no timeline for when the cargo vessel might be refloated.

Wagenborg, the Dutch maritime logistics company and operator of the vessel, said in a statement Thursday that a salvage master and naval architect are expected to join Thamesborg by the end of the week.

The ship remains stable in its location, with no pollution or environmental threat. But authorities say monitoring continues as the ship remains aground.

“The Canadian Coast Guard has two vessels on-site, the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier and the CCGS Jean Goodwill, and also uses satellite-based environmental monitoring technology,” the Coast Guard said.

“Aerial surveys have been done, and a remotely operated vehicle completed an inspection of the vessel on September 8.”

Both Coast Guard icebreakers on site have pollution equipment that can be used if needed, the Coast Guard said.

There are no communities in the immediate vicinity of the grounding; but the Coast Guard said they have asked Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada for any information about sensitive wildlife or environmental areas in the regions; and continue to work with and exchange information with the government of Nunavut and Inuit organizations in the area. 

Under Canadian law, vessel owners must cover the costs of their own incidents, including cleanup, repairs, and any other remediation.

The Thamesborg is an ice-class ship that was traveling from Asia to Baie-Comeau, Quebec with carbon block cargo, solid processed carbon used in heavy industry like steel and aluminum production.

Canadian ice pilot on ship

At the time of the grounding there were 16 people on board, including a Canadian ice pilot in addition to the 15 crew members.

Ice pilots are specialist navigators who guide ships through the Arctic.

To qualify, they require 50 days of experience in charge of a ship, including 30 days in Arctic waters where the vessel either needed help from an icebreaker or had to steer around heavy ice.

Comments, tips or story ideas? Contact Eilís at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca 

Related stories from around the North: 

Canada: 2nd Coast Guard icebreaker reaches grounded cargo ship in Arctic Canada; salvage experts to be sent, Eye on the Arctic 

Norway: Hybrid-powered electric cruise ship navigates Northwest Passage, CBC News

Russia: Beijing and Moscow tune in for more Arctic shipping, The Independent Barents Observer

United States: U.S. Coast Guard monitors Chinese ships in Arctic waters…again, Eye on the Arctic