Update: Cruise Ship Strikes Lock in St. Lawrence Seaway

The U.S. Coast Guard’s response to a cruise ship that allided with a concrete wall in the Eisenhower Lock in the St. Lawrence Seaway has continued Friday in Massena, New York.

 

There were 274 people, including passengers and crew, aboard the 286-foot ship Saint Laurent at the time of the collision. The Coast Guard said 30 people were removed from the ship Thursday night due to injuries, and of those, 28 have been released from the hospital and returned to the ship. 

 

Passengers and luggage are being taken off the vessel, which remains in the lock, in baskets attached to cranes to be loaded onto buses and driven to Montreal. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation personnel are in the baskets to assist passengers, while U. S. Customs and Border Protection are on the vessel clearing all passengers before the ship’s departure. It may take up to six hours to remove all the people from the ship.

 

An initial damage assessment indicated that 10 feet of the bow was pushed inward during the impact, causing water intrusion in the bow area. There have been no reports of additional water intrusion since the lock was partially drained.

 

Navigation is currently suspended in this section of the seaway until the Saint Laurent can be moved.  At least nine vessels have been delayed due to the closure.

 

The ship will remain in the lock with both doors closed until it is safely refloated and can be moved to different location.

 

There continue to be no indications of any pollution. The cause of the allision is under investigation.