[Video: Tugs finally free Chem Norma]
At approximately 4:10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 29th, 2018, 145-metre chemical/oil products tanker Chem Norma ran aground against old Lock 23 in the St. Lawrence River, just off Morrisburg, Ontario.
The Prescott Anchor Facebook group was first to report what happened early Tuesday morning and warned residents on the river that water levels would rise rapidly in a bid to help free the vessel after efforts using tugs alone failed.
Chem Norma finally freed after running agroud in seaway [Ottawa Citizen]
By 9 a.m., an inspector from the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, which oversees the channel, had boarded the vessel to assess its seaworthiness.
Andrew Bogora, Communications Officer for the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, told Nation Valley News Chem Norma ran aground "because of a steering issue."
No water was observed penetrating the hull of the vessel, and no pollution was observed around the ship.
Chemical tanker runs aground at Morrisburg because of "steering issue" [Nation Valley News]
Overseeing the effort to extricate the tanker from the remnants of old Lock 23 were several entities, including St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, Transport Canada, Canadian Coast Guard, Environment Canada and Ontario's Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.
'Like a boot stuck in mud,' can she 'wiggle' free? [Nation Valley News]
Raising the river finally did the trick: The Chem Norma was freed late Sunday, June 3rd, 2018 after six days stranded off the shore of Morrisburg.
She was freed shortly before 4 p.m. Sunday, but tugs Ocean Pierre Julien, Ocean K Rusby, Ocean Tundra and a little extra water flow.
Tanker freed but Morrisburg boat show continues as Chem Norma sits at anchor [Nation Valley News]
The Chem Norma had become a temporary tourist attraction with hundreds of people, and vehicles lined up at the Morrisburg waterfront in the morning, afternoon, and evening to see the stranded ship.
The waterfront Docksyde Ice Cream and Snack Bar saw an increase in sales of about 35 percent, as a result of the extra traffic through the area, manager Linda Robinson told Nation Valley News.
South Dundas bids bon voyage to freed tanker [Nation Valley News]
Chem Norma arriving in Trois-Rivieres in Quebec
Chem Norma is currently in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, en route from Quebec to New Orleans. She is expected to arrive in the U.S state on November 11th.
According to popular vessel itinerary and tracking website MarineTraffic.com, the ship makes regular trips between Quebec and Sarnia, Ontario.
We may see Chem Norma on the shoreline of Morrisburg again next spring, but she probably won't be staying for 6 days.
You can follow Chem Norma on MarineTraffic.com.
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