Tugboats, crews try to refloat ship stuck in St. Lawrence River near Montreal

A tugboat attempts to free the MV Maccoa, which has run aground in the St. Lawrence River in Verres-sur-Mer, Quebec, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (Photo: Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

A team of tugboats has been deployed to free the vessel that has been stuck in the St. Lawrence River northeast of Montreal since Christmas Eve.

The Canadian Coast Guard said efforts to free the MV Maccoa are expected to begin around 11 a.m.

The 185-meter Cyprus-flagged cargo ship ran aground in the early hours of Dec. 24 after losing power near Verres-sur-Mer, Quebec.

The Coast Guard said there was no damage to the ship's hull, no pollution in the water, the vessel was not blocking marine traffic and there were no injuries.

Authorities sent generators, heaters and equipment to restore power to the 20 crew members aboard the stranded vessel.

The Coast Guard said it will use drones and possibly a helicopter to monitor today's effort to free the ship, and a member of the Marine and Environmental Hazard Response Team will also be on board.

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