MASSENA -- The 286-foot passenger cruise ship Saint Laurent was safely refloated Saturday after it struck a concrete wall at Eisenhower Lock injuring 30 people late Thursday night, according to officials from Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC).

The vessel was freed from the lock wall with the assistance of the tug Pierre Julien and was moved to a lower wall of the seaway, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Divers conducted a survey of the vessel and determined that the extent of the damage was to the bow of the vessel and that the vessel can sail under its own power.

Around 4 p.m. yesterday navigation on the St. Lawrence Seaway resumed and vessels are once again using the Eisenhower Lock. During the two days navigation was suspended and 17 vessels were reportedly delayed.

The collision took place around 9:15 p.m. Thursday. There were 192 passengers, 81 crew, and a pilot on board the vessel. All passengers and crew on board were safely evacuated from the vessel and transported by bus to Montreal, Canada, officials said.

Shortly after the vessel struck the bumper, SLSDC staff on site at Eisenhower Lock activated the agency's emergency response plan and notified all emergency services needed to respond to the incident. The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the state police, the Hogansburg Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department, the St. Regis Mohawk community, local emergency responders, medical personnel at the Massena Memorial Hospital and others all responded.

No pollution was detected as a result of incident. After a preliminary review, no significant damage to Eisenhower Lock infrastructure has been identified, but SLSDC safety inspectors are reportedly continuing their review.

"This is a critical transportation route and we want to do all that we can to make sure that we provide a safe, efficient, and reliable waterway,” said SLSDC administrator Betty Sutton. “While it is unfortunate that the ship struck the lock, the collective response was quick, effective, and thorough: passenger safety was secured, the ship was stabilized, actions to remove the ship and restart navigation were implemented, and now navigation has resumed."

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

The Eisenhower Lock is one of two U.S. locks on the 10-mile-long Wiley-Dondero Canal, which provides access to Lake St. Lawrence and is operated by the SLSDC, a modal administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The Saint Laurent is a cruise ship owned by International Shipping Partners.