27 AUG 2018: The Akademic Ioffe, operated by One Ocean Expeditions tour company, ran aground in Pelly Bay about 70 kilometres north of Kugaruuk, on the Simpson Peninsula on Canada’s eastern Arctic coast. The ship has made many Arctic cruises, and has since been re-floated.

“There is some damage to the vessel,” said Chris Krepski of the Transportation Safety Board, but it was reported that the damage to the hull was ‘contained and limited.’

The 102 passengers and 24 staff were transferred to the Ioffe’s sister ship, the Akademik Sergey Vavilov.

“They picked up all the passengers this morning in search and rescue operations with the Canadian Coast Guard, Cpl. Serge Yelle of the Kugaruuk RCMP detachment said Saturday.

The Vavilov had 83 passengers of its own. Onboard programmeming continued Saturday.

The Canadian Coast Guard confirmed Saturday that the icebreaker Canadian Coast Guard Ship Amundsen and its helicopter were at the scene, while a second vessel, Canadian Coast Guard Ship Pierre Radisson, arrived later in the day.

Coast Guard spokeswoman Lauren Solski said the ship still appears seaworthy despite the accident, although an inspection took place on Saturday.

“It is floating and very stable. No injuries or oil leaks have been reported, said Solski, who confirmed travel arrangements for the ship would be determined once the Coast Guard and Transport Canada had finished investigating its condition.

The tour company said the captain had reported the incident to the relevant federal and territorial agencies.

One Ocean Expeditions said there had been no report of any environmental concerns.

The tour company, which has a mailing address in Squamish, BC, said the captain had reported the incident to the relevant federal and territorial agencies.

Krepski said the board was to decide if it was going to send an investigation team to the scene. “We’re following it closely for now,’ he said.

On its website, the tour operator describes the Akademik Ioffe as a “modern, comfortable, safe and ice-strengthened’ vessel that can host 96 passengers and 65 staff and crew.

“We regret the inconvenience to our passengers and are working closely with the captain, ship owner and all relevant agencies to resolve the situation as quickly and safely as possible,’ Catherine Lawton, general manager of One Ocean Expeditions, said in a statement.

Canada’s Arctic seas remain poorly charted.

In 2012, a 200-passenger ship ran aground in the Northwest Passage, although the weather was calm, and everyone was helped off safely.