The Algoma Discovery ran aground due to mechanical reasons, off the coast of Ile d'Orlean, just off Quebec City, on the St Lawrence River, on the evening of Monday, February 8. The vessel was freed the following day (yesterday) helped by high tides. According to Boatnerd.com, the MV Algoma Discovery, ex MV Daviken, is registered in Nassau, Bahamas and is currently under charter to Fednav. The vessel is 222 m long, 23 m wide by 14.6 meters, with a cargo capacity for 34,980 tons. The vessel was loaded with titanium and nickel, bound for Norway.
This is not the first time this particular vessel has grounded, as a matter of fact, this is the second time in almost six months. The last time was in Germany's Weser River in September 2009. In both incidences, mechanical failure has been cited as possible causes.
On September 6, 2009, the MV Algoport broke in two and sank in the East China Sea, south of Japan, while being towed to a Chinese repair yard. Friend of the site, SR - (thank you), submitted the pictures below of the ship going down. The ship was being towed from Panama to China, by the tug Pacific Hickory operated by Vancouver based Island Tug & Barge. According to Boatnerd.com, the Algoport broke her back while encountering rough seas resulting from Tropical Storm Dujuan, one week away from her destination. The ship now rest under 16,404' (5,000 m) of water, at 30°0'0" N by 130°0'0" E.
The ship made her own way down to Balbao, on Panama's western shores, where the crew signed off, and she was mated to the tug Pacific Hickory, for the tow east, across the Pacific. She was to follow her fleetmate, MV Algobay, which received a new fore body at the Chengxi Shipyard Co. Ltd. in Jiangyin, China. The cost for the refits was to have cost Algoma $65 million, instead, the company recorded a net $2 million gain in the third quarter, due to insurance payout, which was bigger than the book value of the vessel. They will, however, look for another stern section to fit to the already built fore body now in China.
ALGOPORT Owner - Algoma Central Corporation Operator - Seaway Marine Transport Gross tonnage - 20,222 DWT - 31,970 Type of ship - Great Lakes Self-Discharging Bulk Carrier Length - 200 m Breadth - 23 m Draught: 14 m Main Engines - 2x Crossley Pielstick 10PC 2V MK3, V-10 (7,980 kW total) Built - Collingwood Shipyards, Collingwood, Ontario Year of build - 1979 Cost - Approximately $25 million Flag - Canada Total loss - Sept 6, 2009, East China Sea while under tow (no loss of life, no reported pollution)
ALGOPORT