2 Tugs, Lac Manitoba and LCM 131, Sink on St. Lawrence River Near Cornwall

Here’s the local news report on the incident

June 22, 2015 by Mike Schuler

Photo: Issac McDonald via Facebook

Crewmembers are safe after a tugboat capsized and sank on the St. Lawrence River near Cornwall, Ontario after becoming pinned against a barge in strong current.

Reports say now a second tug also capsized and sank in the same area, just a few hours later.

Reports say that all crew members of the tug Lac Manitoba were able to escape the vessel and are reported to be uninjured. The incident is believed to have occurred at approximately 4 p.m.

A photo sequence of the incident posted on Facebook shows the tug roll over after becoming pinned against the barge, then drift down river.

The second tug has not been identified. The current was also believed to be a factor. 

The incidents are the latest to hit the Saint Lawrence Seaway in a matter of days. On Thursday, thirty people were injured when the cruise ship Saint Laurent struck a bumper in the Eisenhower Lock, suspending navigation for 42 hours.

Then on Sunday, the 30,000 DWT bulk carrier MV Tundra ran hard aground near Summerstown, Ontario just hours after the waterway reopened to ship traffic. The vessel remained aground as of Monday evening.

The Lac Manitoba is owned and operated by Nadro Marine Services.

SB deploys a team to the St. Lawrence River near Cornwall, Ontario, to assess two occurrences involving the tugboats Lac Manitoba and LCM 131

Gatineau, Quebec, 23 June 2015 — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to the St. Lawrence River near Cornwall, Ontario, to assess two occurrences involving the tugboats Lac Manitoba and LCM 131 which have capsized. It is not known if the occurrences are related. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrences.