Tugboats finally free ship aground for week

Four tugboats successfully freed a freighter from a shoal on the Canadian side of the St. Lawrence Seaway at 9:06 p.m. Saturday.

The CSL Assiniboine was towed to port in Prescott, Ontario, where divers are inspecting the hull to see what kind of repairs may be needed, according to Canadian Seaway spokesman Andrew K. Bogora.

Mr. Bogora said the ship's cargo, some of which already had been taken off the vessel to lighten its load, likely will be transferred to another ship to be delivered.

Engine failure drove the Assiniboine into shallow water about two miles east of the Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge on Nov. 9. Crews worked all last week to free the ship, which had been carrying a load of soybeans from Dayton, Ohio, to Baie-Comeau, Quebec.

Mr. Bogora said Canada Steamship Lines, the company that owns the bulk carrier, will pay for the rescue effort.