On August 22, the 138 meter long, 12,678 dwt cargo vessel Heemskerkgracht (IMO: 9443669) went aground on the St. Lawrence River off Montreal and Kahnawake, Quebec. The Heemskerkgracht was loaded with scrap metal en route to Huelva, Spain when it suffered engine failure and a power blackout. The cargo vessel went adrift and eventually ran aground by the stern. All traffic halted as the Heemskerkgracht was positioned at a 45 degree angle across the navigation channel resulting in some 14 vessels were forced to drop anchor.
The Canadian Coast Guard inspected the Heemskerkgracht and found there was no water ingress or pollution released. On August 24, the tugs Ocean Pierre Julien and Ocean Intrepide were dispatched and pulled the Heemskerkgracht free. The cargo vessel was later towed to a dock for inspection. No reports of injuries.
