Company statement and updates
MV Thamesborg grounding in the Franklin Strait, Nunavut
Update - October 9, 2025
Delfzijl, October 9, 2025 - Wagenborg successfully refloats Thamesborg in Canadian Arctic
Wagenborg is pleased to confirm that its general cargo vessel MV Thamesborg has been successfully refloated from its position in the Franklin Strait off Prince of Wales Island, Canada, today at approximately 6 AM local time.
The vessel is stable and currently attended by salvage vessels and the Canadian Coast Guard vessel Des Groseilliers. There were no injuries to the crew and no pollution occurred during the refloating or the initial grounding on September 6.
The complex refloating operation involved the transfer of over 5,000 tons of cargo to the assisting vessels Silver Copenhagen and Nunalik to reduce the vessel’s draft. Following this, the MSV Botnica arrived with specialist equipment, allowing for the controlled reduction of water in the Thamesborg's damaged ballast tanks, enabling the successful operation.
Following inspection and clearance from official parties, the Thamesborg is en route to a port of refuge.
Wagenborg extends its sincere gratitude to the Canadian Coast Guard, Transport Canada, the involved salvage teams, and all government agencies and staff who provided crucial assistance throughout this operation.
The exact cause of the grounding is still under investigation in full cooperation with Canadian authorities, including the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB).
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Update - October 6, 2025
Delfzijl, October 6, 2025 - Managers Wagenborg report that its general cargo vessel Thamesborg remains aground in stable condition in the Franklin Strait off Prince of Wales Island, Canada. The crew onboard are safe and in good health, there has been no pollution resulting from the grounding, the vessel's fuel tanks and cargo holds are intact and all preparatory salvage operations to date have proceeded without incident.
Multiple ballast tanks were ruptured in the grounding, these tanks were empty before the grounding and are now filled with seawater taken on in the Northwest Passage. The Canadian Coast Guard and Transport Canada have reviewed the salvage plan submitted by Wagenborg and the salvage experts and consider it reasonable and appropriate to start salvage operations.
The details of this salvage operation that we are able to provide are as follows:
- Stage #1: Around 4.000 tons of cargo aboard the Thamesborg has been transferred to the Silver Copenhagen and the Nulavik. This stage of the operation was needed to reduce the draft of the vessel for an upcoming refloating attempt. Should it be determined to be necessary, we have the resources on location to remove additional cargo and further lighten the ship.
- Stage #2: With the arrival of the MSV Botnica on October 3rd, the remaining equipment needed for a successful refloating operation is now on site. With this equipment the amount of ballast water in the damaged tanks will be reduced in a controlled way in order to refloat the Thamesborg. Conditions permitting, the refloating operation is scheduled for this week.
- Stage #3: Once the Thamesborg is refloated, the vessel will be inspected and set direction to a port of refuge, the location of which is still to be confirmed with the relevant authorities. The current plan is for the Thamesborg to make this voyage under its own power. However, the Botnica is available to assist by escorting, towing or icebreaking.
The Thamesborg has an ice class 1A notation which translates to having engine output and other properties that are capable of navigating in difficult ice conditions, with the assistance of icebreakers when necessary. It should be noted that circumstances may lead to changes in the original salvage plan, as well as to the timing and sequence of events.
Regarding the timeline for the completion of this operation, much depends on favourable weather and sea conditions. The continued safety of the crew and all responding personnel, alongside maintaining the integrity of the ship and local environment will remain our key priorities, regardless of time pressures.
That being said, questions have been raised regarding the onset of winter and the impact if the ship is not refloated before ice forms. All company resources and energy are currently being dedicated to ensuring the Thamesborg is successfully refloated prior to this window closing; we have contingency plans in place if this outcome does not materialize, but we will address that scenario only if and when faced with it.
The precise cause of the grounding is yet to be determined; a full and thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the grounding is underway, in coordination with Canadian authorities, including the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) therefore any statement made on the causes prior to the completion of this investigation would be premature.
Understandably, the question of costs of the ongoing salvage operation have been posed. While Wagenborg’s singular focus at the moment is the safe and efficient refloating of the Thamesborg, we wish to reaffirm that Royal Wagenborg maintains comprehensive maritime industry insurance coverage, including Protection and Indemnity (P&I) insurance and Hull & Machinery (H&M) insurance on all of our vessels and we are confident these industry safeguards will serve their designed purpose in this instance.
We are in contact with the families of all crew members aboard the Thamesborg to keep them abreast of progress and it should be noted that the continued work of the crew on board has been integral in assisting the authorities and salvage experts with the safe refloating.
We understand there will be more questions about the salvage operation in the days ahead and Wagenborg is committed to providing updates on progress as often as is feasible.
Before closing, I would like to say a few words regarding Wagenborg’s experience in providing shipping services through the Northwest Passage, a route in global shipping that is gaining importance and number of transits YoY.
Wagenborg has a long history of specialized shipping operations, particularly in ice-covered and potentially perilous waters and providing the services we do through the Northwest Passage has brought its own unique set of challenges, which we at Wagenborg have taken on at each stage of the growth of shipping through these routes.
Since 2016, Wagenborg has completed over 50 successful commercial transits of the Northwest Passage, establishing a proven track record, and we have been successful in doing so through innovation, investment in cutting-edge technology and through close collaboration with our partners in the Canadian Coast Guard and Transport Canada at each stage of every voyage.
All transits are undertaken with extensive planning, including the use of low-sulfur marine gas oil, a relatively slow operating speed, and enhanced navigation and communication systems. Crucially, the company consistently hires experienced Canadian Ice Navigators to supplement the professional crews and provide local expertise for the high-latitude waters.
We regret that even with every known technology and safeguard in play, the grounding of Thamesborg has occurred and Wagenborg is committed to learn lessons from this incident and continue leading our industry in navigating this sea route.
Wagenborg would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the Canadian Coast Guard, Transport Canada as well as all government agencies and staff that have responded to this incident. The level of support received, and professionalism demonstrated is unmatched and Wagenborg could not have asked for better partners in facing this challenge.
Wagenborg will continue to work in close and continuous cooperation with the Canadian Coast Guard, Transport Canada, and the contracted salvage teams to ensure the safe and prompt refloating and removal of the Thamesborg.
We remain committed to the highest standards of safety and environmental protection in all our Arctic operations.
Update - September 22, 2025
Delfzijl, September 22, 2025 - Managers Wagenborg report that two salvage vessels have arrived on scene to attend to its general cargo vessel Thamesborg, which remains aground in stable condition in the Franklin Strait off Prince of Wales Island, Canada.
Salvage experts have meanwhile developed a plan for the safe refloating of the ship in close conjunction with the Canadian Coast Guard, Transport Canada and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Ontario. Weather permitting, it is expected that the first part of the salvage operation will start over the course of this week with part of the cargo of Thamesborg being transshipped to one of the attending salvage vessels.
A Canadian Coast Guard vessel continues to provide assistance to Thamesborg and is monitoring the situation on site, including conducting ROV surveys. The latest inspections show that the fuel tanks and cargo holds of the ship remain intact. A third salvage vessel is currently underway to the location and will be joining for the last part of the salvage operation.
Thamesborg is a modern Ice-class vessel which was on its way from Asia to Baie Comeau on the East coast of Canada. The ship is carrying a cargo of carbon blocks. All crew aboard the Thamesborg are safe and in good condition.
Update - September 15, 2025
Delfzijl, September 15, 2025 - Managers Wagenborg report that its general cargo vessel Thamesborg remains stable following its unexpected grounding in the Franklin Strait off Prince of Wales Island, Canada. Following this incident, the company immediately began formulating a plan for the safe and effective refloating of the ship in close cooperation with the Canadian Coast Guard, Transport Canada, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Ontario and salvage experts. Two Canadian Coast Guard vessels are currently providing assistance to Thamesborg and continue to monitor the situation on site.
All salvage efforts are dependent on the weather and some operations have had to be delayed due to inclement weather over the weekend. Meanwhile a salvage master and naval architect joined Thamesborg and the first salvage equipment and additional staff have arrived on site. Remaining salvage equipment and staff is underway to the site and expected to arrive within 7 days. We expect a salvage plan to be submitted later this week. Further inspections have again confirmed the fuel tanks and cargo holds of the ship remain intact. Some of the vessel’s ballast tanks have sustained damage as a result of the incident.
Thamesborg is a modern Ice-class vessel which was on its way from Asia to Baie Comeau on the East coast of Canada. The ship is carrying a cargo of carbon blocks. All crew aboard the Thamesborg are safe and in a good condition.
Update - September 11, 2025
Delfzijl, September 11, 2025 - Managers Wagenborg report that its general cargo vessel Thamesborg remains stable following its unexpected grounding in the Franklin Strait off Prince of Wales Island, Canada. The company continues to prioritise its plans for the safe and effective refloating of the ship with a salvage master and naval architect expected to join Thamesborg by the end of the week. Meanwhile salvage equipment and additional staff have been mobilised.
Two Canadian Coast Guard vessels are currently providing assistance to Thamesborg and continue to monitor the situation on site. Further inspections have again confirmed the fuel tanks and cargo holds of the ship are intact. Some of the vessel’s ballast tanks have sustained damage as a result of the incident. All crew aboard the Thamesborg are safe and in a good condition.
Wagenborg would like to express its gratitude to the Canadian Coast Guard, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Ontario and all other relevant parties for their swift assistance following the events surrounding Thamesborg.
Thamesborg is a modern Ice-class vessel which was on its way from Asia to Baie Comeau on the East coast of Canada. The ship is carrying a cargo of carbon blocks.
Update - September 8, 2025
Delfzijl, September 8, 2025 - Managers Wagenborg report that salvage experts are to arrive on site to attend to the general cargo vessel Thamesborg, which unexpectedly ran aground off Prince of Wales Island, Nunavut, Canada. The ship stranded on Saturday, September 6, while transiting Franklin Strait, with no injuries to the crew reported and no pollution resulting from the incident.
The fuel tanks of Thamesborg and its cargo holds are all intact. 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.
Immediately following the event all relevant authorities and parties have been informed. Two Canadian Coast Guard vessel are currently assisting on scene and in are contact with the Thamesborg crew and the salvage team who are formulating steps for the safe refloating of the vessel.
Thamesborg is a modern Ice-class vessel which was on its way from Asia to Baie Comeau on the East coast of Canada. The ship is carrying a cargo of carbon blocks for industrial use.
The exact cause of the incident is yet unknown with a full investigation into the exact circumstances leading to the grounding to follow.
Company statement - September 7, 2025
Delfzijl, September 7, 2025 - Managers Wagenborg report that salvage assistance has been arranged for its managed general cargo vessel Thamesborg which ran aground off the coast of the Prince of Wales Island, Nunavut, Canada earlier this weekend. There are no injuries to crew and no pollution occurred as a result of the incident. Fuel tanks of the vessel and its cargo holds are all intact. Crew of Thamesborg are currently making a further assessment of potential damage to the ship which remains aground in a stable condition.
Immediately following the event all relevant authorities and parties have been informed. A Coast Guard vessel has arrived at the scene. Salvage experts meanwhile are discussing further steps for the safe refloating of the vessel.
Thamesborg is a modern Ice-class vessel which was on its way from Asia to Baie Comeau on the East coast of Canada. The ship is carrying a shipment of carbon blocks for industrial use.
More information will follow once available.
