Antares Vessel Reviews and Specifications

On March 24, 2019, at 1:50 PM, the Canadian tugboat "Lois M" (IMO: 9017616) reached the stranded tanker "Jana Desgagnes" which was trapped in ice near Cape Ray. The incident occurred in the Cabot Strait, approximately 16 miles southwest of Port aux Basques, after the vessel had departed from Come By Chance just one day earlier. The "Jana Desgagnes," carrying a cargo of petroleum and fuel and staffed by a crew of 17, had suffered damage to its rudder due to heavy ice conditions and signaled for assistance. In response, the Canadian Coast Guard deployed the icebreaker "Captain Molly Kool" (IMO: 9199646) to stabilize the tanker and prevent it from drifting closer to shore. As the lead agency, the Coast Guard activated the Incident Command Post at the Environmental Response center in St. John's, working closely with the vessel's captain and owner to address potential pollution risks. The icebreakers "Captain Molly Kool" and "Louis S. St-Laurent" began operations to aid the "Jana Desgagnes" through the challenging ice, with the "Captain Molly Kool" utilizing its specialized towing notch design to secure the tanker until commercial tug support arrived. By March 23, the "Jana Desgagnes" was positioned off Cape Anguille, and preparations were underway for its tow to Sydney, Nova Scotia, for repairs by the "Lois M". For further details, including photos and videos, visit: https://vocm.com/news/canadian-coast-guard-to-resume-towing-of-tanker-stuck-off-coast-of-nl/

On the night of May 21, 2018, the tanker 'Jana Desgagnes' experienced a harrowing near miss while navigating the St. Clair River. Around 10:30 p.m., the vessel drifted dangerously close to the seawall along the Thomas Edison Parkway, just beneath the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron. During the incident, the ship initially veered sideways in the river before heading directly toward the wall. An erroneous command prompted the pilot to steer to port instead of starboard, but the captain, present on the bridge, swiftly rectified the mistake. Notably, the pilot had prior experience on the vessel. At the time, 'Jana Desgagnes' was transporting clean refined oil with its destination set for Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay, Ontario. The near miss had consequences, including at least one local fisherman losing his pole when his line became entangled as the tanker approached. This specific segment of the shipping channel, where Lake Huron converges with the St. Clair River, is notorious for its navigation difficulties, primarily due to the strong currents emanating from the lake combined with the river’s sharp bend. For further details and images, visit the full report.

On the evening of May 4, 2018, at 9:30 p.m., the tanker 'Jana Desgagnes' encountered trouble as it entered the port of Rimouski, Quebec, situated along the St. Lawrence River. The vessel ran aground on a sandbank, prompting concerns among local maritime operations. Fortunately, the 'Jana Desgagnes' was successfully refloated the following morning at 7:30 a.m. as high tide conditions returned to the area, allowing the tanker to continue its journey safely.