VERCHÈRES - Authorities began unloading thousands of tonnes of sugar from a cargo vessel run aground in the St. Lawrence River near Montreal on Friday in an attempt to free the ship.

The Federal Yamaska became stuck near Verchères, Que., at around 5:45 a.m. Tuesday, following a complete loss of engines. A first attempt to refloat the 180-mere bulk carrier was unsuccessful.

The Canadian Coast Guard said the unloading operation will take several hours and is necessary before a new refloating attempt can be made. The ship is partially in the channel but other vessels are able to navigate around it.

Francois Lapointe, acting superintendent of environmental response and maritime hazards, said 3,200 tonnes of sugar have to be off-loaded onto two barges before an attempt to refloat. Crews are

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