Federal-Kivalina Vessel Reviews and Specifications

The Coast Guard, in collaboration with the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC), has successfully completed the salvage operation of the bulk carrier "Federal Kivalina". The vessel, which had caused a disruption in the St. Lawrence Seaway, was safely removed by a dedicated salvage crew and two powerful tugs from Montreal, allowing the waterway to resume normal operations by 7:30 p.m. on May 29. The salvage operation commenced shortly after the Coast Guard approved the recovery plan earlier that afternoon. The swift actions of the response teams, which included personnel from the Coast Guard's Marine Safety Detachment in Massena, New York State Parks Police, New York State Police, and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, ensured the crew's safety and the timely removal of the vessel. Investigators are currently examining the incident to ascertain the cause of the grounding. The SLSDC announced the reopening of the seaway, which had been closed for over 48 hours, bringing relief to various vessels awaiting transit. For further details and visuals, refer to the report: http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2170998/

On Thursday, May 29, 2023, a total of 18 vessels found themselves stalled in the St. Lawrence Seaway due to the grounding of the bulk carrier 'Federal Kivalina' near the Thousand Islands Bridge. As efforts to refloat the stranded ship commenced, the U.S. Coast Guard was in the process of evaluating a salvage strategy proposed by Donjon-SMIT LLC, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. To assist in this operation, two tugs from Montreal were dispatched to the area. In total, a challenging task awaits as approximately 23,000 metric tons of canola seeds must be offloaded to enable the safe refloating of the vessel. For more insights and visuals, check out the detailed reports at the following links: [Watertown Daily Times](http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20140529/NEWS09/705299754) and [U.S. Coast Guard News](http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2170218/).

On May 26, the bulk carrier 'Federal Kivalina' ran aground while navigating the St. Lawrence Seaway near Wellesley Island, New York, due to a loss of steering control. In response to the incident, the Coast Guard, in collaboration with the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, has been actively managing salvage operations and investigations surrounding the stricken vessel. The vessel's hull was found to have sustained a two-foot breach near the bow during an underwater survey conducted by a dive team on the evening of the incident and the morning of May 27. Fortunately, it has been assessed as stable. A salvage crew has been dispatched and is expected to arrive shortly to examine the hull inspection findings alongside the evolving weather and water conditions. They are set to commence the lightering operations necessary to safely remove the vessel starting May 29. The grounding of 'Federal Kivalina' has caused a backlog, with several vessels waiting for clearance up and down the waterway. The Coast Guard's review and approval of the salvage strategy are pending. The Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment in Massena, New York, is leading the investigation into the grounding, with support from multiple agencies including Coast Guard Station Alexandria Bay, New York State Parks Police, New York State Police, and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. For further updates and visual documentation of the incident, visit: http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2169430/