A BULK carrier that ran aground in a crucial Canadian waterway has been refloated after some of its cargo was unloaded.

The Marshall Islands-flagged, 37,145 dwt, 2013-built Federal Yamaska (IMO: 9609665) was en route from Brazil to Montreal when it ran aground in the St Lawrence River near Vecheres, after its engines failed on August 12.

The Canadian Coast Guard said five tugs were mobilised and attempted to refloat the bulker on August 13, but were unsuccessful.

The CGA said some of the bulker’s cargo, which a Lloyd’s List Intelligence casualty report said was sugar, needed to be unloaded to lighten the vessel.

While no official confirmation has been received, data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence shows Federal Yamaska resumed its journey downriver to Montreal on August 16 at around 1800 hrs, arriving at its destination a day later.

A casualty report said some 3,000 tonnes of sugar were removed from the bulker before it was able to be refloated and towed to Montreal, where it will undergo a full inspection.

Meanwhile, in the Canadian province of Newfoundland, efforts continue to free another vessel that ran aground six months ago.

The Liberia-flagged, 2,478 teu, 2003-built MSC Baltic III (IMO: 9241475) lost power and subsequently ran aground in bad weather back in February 2025.

The salvage operation is extremely complicated, not least because MSC Baltic III lies in an isolated cove. A road has had to be constructed into the bay as well as a walkway to the vessel’s bow.

The most recent update published by the Canadian Coast Guard on August 14 confirmed that most of the vessel’s 1,600 tonnes of heavy fuel and marine gas oil have been removed, with efforts now shifting to the removal of any residual fuel.

More than 300 containers have been removed from the boxship since it ran aground six months ago, but 142 containers remain on the vessel.

Some evidence of pollution, including tar stains, have been observed in nearby coves and shorelines. The CGA said these stains are cleaned as soon as they are found.