Marine crews will attempt to refloat a 225-metre cargo ship on Monday, three weeks after it got stuck in the St. Lawrence River.
A spokesperson for the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation says lightering operations are expected to conclude Sunday evening and an attempt to refloat the Tim S. Dool will start Monday during daylight hours.
Crews started offloading cargo from the vessel on Thursday to facilitate dislodging it from the ground. The boat was carrying a load of wheat grain in U.S. waters when it ran aground, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard says they will have to close a portion of the Seaway for several hours once refloating operations begin.
U.S. and Canadian officials say they are working closely to minimize disruption to the maritime transportation system and ensure direct communication with commercial vessels that may be impacted in the area of the vessel.
The 57-year-old bulk carrier ran aground near Morrisburg, Ont. on Nov. 23. Previous attempts to dislodge the boat using tugboats have been unsuccessful.
The boat remains outside the navigation channel and no injuries or environmental damage have been reported.
(CTV News Ottawa)