October 7, 2019

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Buffalo

Contact:  Ensign Joe Neff

(716) 843-9521

Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation

Contact: Christopher Guimond

(315) 764-3293 

Coast Guard responds to vessel grounding in the St. Lawrence Seaway

OGDENSBURG, N.Y. – The Coast Guard is responding to a vessel grounding approximately 14 miles north of Ogdensburg, New York near Galop Island, Monday.

The motor vessel Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin, a 740-foot vessel, reported they ran aground Sunday evening while transiting downbound the St. Lawrence River en route to Quebec City.

The vessel is carrying a load of iron ore and the ship’s fuel. The vessel is taking on water at a slow rate, but installed pumps are keeping up with the water ingress. No fuel or cargo tanks have been breached and no pollution or injuries have been reported.

The channel is open, but commercial traffic is being managed by the St. Lawrence Seaway on a case-by-case basis.

The Coast Guard is working closely with the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation and our partners as part of an Incident Management Team in response to this incident. The Incident Management Team is currently developing a salvage plan.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

For media inquiries, contact Sector Buffalo Public Affairs Officer Joe Neff at (334) 224-5868.

-USCG-