Thamesborg Aground in Canadian Artic as Salvage Effort Looms
The Dutch-flagged 21,359-dwt general cargo vessel Thamesborg remains aground along the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic four days after hitting a shoal.
The vessel ran aground off Prince of Wales Island in Nunavut Canada on September 6, while passing through the Franklin Strait en route from China to eastern Canada.
Dutch operator Wagenborg has retained salvage experts to attend to the 12-year old vessel. Thamesborg holds a 1A ice-class rating enabling it to pass through ice-covered waters, including in the Baltic Sea and the Arctic.
“A first thorough assessment conducted by the crew of Thamesborg has shown damage to the hull and ballast tanks of the ship which is stable and aground,” Wagenborg told gCaptain.
Critically the vessel’s fuel tanks and cargo hold were not damaged and remain intact.
“This incident is one of several groundings that have occurred this summer – and we are only hearing about it because self-rescue was not an option. Despite widespread perceptions that the Arctic, and in particular the Northwest Passage, is becoming increasingly open it remains extremely challenging to navigate,” says Jackie Dawson an expert on Arctic shipping and professor at the University of Ottawa and Canada Research Chair.
The Canadian Coast Guard responded with two vessels to the incident and currently remains on site. “Two Canadian Coast Guard vessels are currently assisting on scene and are in contact with the Thamesborg crew and the salvage team who are formulating steps for the safe refloating of the vessel,” the company stated.
Canadian Coast Guard vessel CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier was first on scene with its fast rescue craft and helicopter. CCGS Jean Goodwill conducted a hull inspection using a remotely operated vehicle on September 8 with the results currently being analyzed.
“The vessel MV Thamesborg has flooded in multiple ballast tanks. Vessel owners are responsible for the cost of addressing their problem vessel. This includes any hazard-related costs like cleanup or repairs and any remediation action taken,” the Coast Guard said in its initial update on the incident.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation. AIS records show that the usual shipping lane runs further to the west through Franklin Strait. It is unclear why Thamesborg elected a more easterly routing.
Shipping experts point out that nautical charts in Canada’s Arctic waters are often decades old and of limited resolution. Soundings in the water where Thamesborg ran aground were conducted between 1980-1989 at 2000 meter spacing through ice. While charts show the shoal in the right place, its maximum extent was likely never properly established.
“The region is poorly charted and there are many shallow areas that have plagued ships on numerous occasions – but there are well documented corridors that can be safely utilized,” confirms Dawson.
However, climate change has made the Arctic ice pack increasingly mobile and harder to predict.
“What people do not always understand is that rapidly changing sea ice dynamics often force ships off of these main corridors and into areas that are very poorly charted. I suspect that is what happened in this instance,” Dawson concludes.
gCaptain
Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Down in August
CLEVELAND – Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes in August totaled 5 million tons, a 9.1 percent decrease compared to last year. Shipments were below the month’s 5-year average by 2 percent.
Year-to-date, the iron ore trade totals 26.7 million tons, a decrease of 13.9 percent compared to the same point in 2024.
Through August, iron shipments are 6.4 percent below their 5-year average for eight months of the year.
Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually that are the foundation of American industry, infrastructure, and power: iron ore, stone, coal, cement, and other dry bulk materials such as grain, salt, and sand. More information is available at www.lcaships.com.
[See charts in gallery below]
Detroit Historical Society hosts several events for 50th anniversary of Edmund Fitzgerald sinking
By: Max White
(WXYZ) — The Detroit Historical Society is hosting a full weekend of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
According to the society, the activities all take place at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle, and will kick off on Friday, Nov. 7, with a talk by author Thomas Nelson, who wrote the book “WRECKED: the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.”
On Saturday, Nov. 8, curators and docents will host drop-in tours of the Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit on the lower level of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. Also, the Great Lakes Maritime Institute will be there for information and merchandise.
Also on Saturday, the Livonia Amateur Radio Club will be in DeRoy Hall for the Edmund Fitzgerald radio broadcast, and a new pop-up exhibit will debut.
Sunday morning, the museum will host its first-ever Maritime Brunch, which will feature a chef-prepared meal directly from the Edmund Fitzgerald’s on-ship menu, along with a video presentation from Ship-to-Shore Chef Catherine Schmuck.
During the brunch, a new film will premiere about the Edmund Fitzgerald with experts from around the Great Lakes. Tickets for the brunch are available now.
Finally, on Monday, the society will host its 26th annual Lost Mariner’s Remembrance, which is a tribute to the sailors who were lost on the Great Lakes. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and begins with a lantern vigil at the Fitzgerald’s bow setting. Officials say the event sells out every year, and tickets are available now.
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MHSD Detroit River Cruise Tickets Will Be Available at the Dock
DETROIT, MI – Join members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit aboard the Diamond Jack’s River Tours passenger vessel DIAMOND BELLE (captained by the MHSD’s very own Mike Nicholls and with MHSD member Ken Borg as narrator) for our annual three-hour cruise, 1-4 P.M. Sunday, September 14, on the Detroit River. The weather forecast calls for sunshine and balmy temperatures.
We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic. Snacks and refreshments will be available
on the boat (coolers not allowed on board), which leaves from the Cullen Plaza at the foot of Rivard Street (1340 Atwater St.) Detroit. There is parking at Cullen Plaza (which often fills up early) and there is both street and garage parking nearby.
Tickets at the dock are $30 (cash or check only. Please arrive by 12:45 as the boat will sail promptly at 1 p.m.
MHSD
Annual Maritime Career Day Seeking Partners
TOLEDO, OHIO – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is calling on maritime and Great Lakes–related industries to take part in its second annual Maritime Career Day on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Designed to connect students and the public with career opportunities across the region, the event provides a unique platform for companies, higher education institutions, and tradespeople to connect with future talent and gain valuable exposure.
Last year’s inaugural event drew over 300 students and more than 30 career partners, including leaders from various fields such as shipping, environmental science, engineering, the military, and culinary arts. This year, in addition to students, the museum is expanding its reach by inviting the broader community to take part, offering career partners an even wider audience to share their work and opportunities.
“Maritime Career Day is about building connections and inspiring the next generation of Great Lakes professionals,” said Sara Smith, Director of Institutional Advancement with the National Museum of the Great Lakes. “With the addition of a community session this year, partners will not only meet eager students but also connect with adults exploring career opportunities or seeking new paths within our region’s vital industries.”
Event Details:
- Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
- Student Session: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Grades 7–12)
- Community Session: 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Open to the public)
- Location: National Museum of the Great Lakes, 1701 Front St., Toledo, OH
Career partners will host booths inside the museum and aboard its Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, offering attendees a chance to interact directly with professionals from diverse fields.
Sponsors of the 2025 Maritime Career Day include:
- Presenting Sponsor: World Group Foundation – the philanthropic arm of The World Group, dedicated to creating meaningful, lasting change in the communities where its people live and work.
- Community Sponsors: The Andersons and International Ship Masters Association Toledo Lodge 9
Organizations interested in participating as a career partner are encouraged to contact Sara Smith at sara.smith@nmgl.org. Space is limited, and early registration is recommended.For more information, visit nmgl.org/careerday.
Marine Historical Society of Detroit
Now Accepting New Members, Renewals
DETROIT, MI – You don’t have to live in the Motor City to join the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. Its focus includes all the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway as well as the ships and sailors keeping the economies of two countries moving.
The 81-year-old non-profit group is now accepting new memberships and membership renewals.
“The MHSD has plenty to offer anyone interested in and concerned with the history of the Great Lakes and its vibrant maritime heritage,” says long-time group President Roger LeLievre. “We have members across the U.S. and Canada and even overseas.”
Membership includes the monthly publication The Detroit Marine Historian, which offers a variety of articles exploring Great Lakes shipping past and present. It also includes an annual, full-color calendar featuring superb, often rare, photos of Great Lakes ships of the past.
Last year the group published the 300-page, hardcover book Ahoy & Farewell III, documenting the vessels built and those that left the lakes during the past 30 years. The book recently won an award for excellence from the Historical Society of Michigan.
In keeping with society’s goal of preserving historical images, the MHSD’s image portal, featuring photos and details of many historic vessels, is now online at www.marinehistorydetroit.historyit.com
The Society has named an annual Historian of the Year since 1969. The award is voted on by past winners and honors those who have contributed significantly to the research, presentation or publication of Great Lakes ships and the shipping history.
Membership is $40 (U.S. and Canada). Join online at www.mhsd.org. To join or renew by mail, please print out the form in the gallery below.
MHSD
See “Captain Bob” September 11th
See “Captain Bob” former Captain of the Paul R Tregurtha, in Cheboygan next month for his speaking engagement, GREAT NEWS!! Due to his first show SELLING OUT in record time, they are adding a SECOND SHOW!! Same day but at 5:30pm so if you’re interested, head to the website shown at the bottom of the image (Open it up to see it full size) and grab tickets!! They are only $10 each!! Hurry before this show sells out as well!!
See Photo Gallery below
2025 Luck of the Lakes Raffle Includes Ship Trips
Your raffle ticket purchase supports the Great Lakes Historical Society and its National Museum of the Great Lakes whose mission is to preserve, share, and celebrate the past, present, and future of the Great Lakes story.
Details here:
https://nmgl.org/2025lolraffle/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMDBTFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFZUGV4UFMxNFFGYUpPbTZ2AR5OikAHiWMuo30CZrAqM9nuK93_xmmqYBsoAerabXJ3sBlZWNxpz7mZwoLuFw_aem_1pxrUONQfReTGS4dlnAgzg
