3/22 - Tugs Wilf Seymour and Lois M departed Trois-Rivières, Que., Wednesday around 5 a.m. headed for the Alouette Spirit, which has been aground on Lac St Pierre since the morning of December 25. Lois M has been up to the site twice in the last few days, Wilf Seymour re-positioned herself on the dock Tuesday and on Wednesday night was showing on AIS on as being at the barge, which has a cargo of aluminum ingots bound for Oswego, N.Y.

Joanne Crack - The Prescott Anchor

1/10 - The barge Alouette Spirit, stranded since Christmas morning on Lake Saint-Pierre, will remain there longer than expected. According to owner McKeil Marine Limited, it may be necessary to wait until spring before pulling the vessel free.

In an email sent to Radio-Canada, McKeil Marine Limited's commercial director, Matthew Kendrick, says that no other solution is safer or even feasible, according to the latest analysis. The company came to this conclusion after working on the site and studying the condition of the ice in recent days.

"There is simply too much ice" to allow other tugs or barges to approach the Alouette Spirit, says Kendrick. He adds that it is impossible in these circumstances to maneuver towing or lightening the barge. He said this decision does not expose the environment to any risk, that it will not cause any problems to navigation in the sector and that it will not lead to damage to the barge or its cargo. Industry and barge inspections must be conducted regularly by the company and the Canadian Coast Guard.

Unlike the Alouette Spirit, Wilf Seymour should not spend the winter on Lake Saint-Pierre. According to McKeil, the tugboat could go alone to the port of Trois-Rivières and spend the winter there in order to be able to intervene quickly with the barge if necessary. Wilf Seymour propelled the barge at the time of the incident on the morning of 25 December.

The company does not expect to have "significant difficulties" with Wilf Seymour. The tug should easily detach from the barge and make it easy to reach the port of Trois-Rivières.

Starting from Sept-Îles, the Alouette Spirit was to transport 10,000 tons of aluminum to Oswego, New York. On the morning of December 25, the barge ran aground near the channel of Lake Saint-Pierre. An electrical failure, repaired since, could explain the situation.

Radio-Canada

Thank you very much for Great Lakes and Seaway Shipping news archive for there contribution.
Nicolet .QC.CANADA.23/03/2018.