Ship anchors in Thunder Bay after colliding with something underwater near Isle Royale – 9&10 News

UPDATE 06/09/24

SAULT SAINTE MARIE — The 689-foot bulk carrier Michipicoten safely anchored in Thunder Bay, Ontario, after battling flooding on Lake Superior Saturday morning.

The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes helped the Canadian bulk carrier Michipicoten anchor in Thunder Bay after initially reporting it was taking on water around 7 a.m. The cause of the flooding is unknown at this time. Coast Guard assets involved in the response include two helicopters from Air Station Traverse City and a response boat from Station Bayfield.

Although no injuries were reported aboard the ship, the Coast Guard coordinated with a National Park Service boat from Isle Royale to transfer 11 of the 22 crew members aboard the Michipicoten. All U.S. Coast Guard assets have been removed from the scene, and the Coast Guard remains in close cooperation with its Canadian counterparts.

The cause of the flooding and any other damage to the bulk carrier will be investigated.

08/06/24

SAULT-STE. MARIE (AP) — A cargo ship in Lake Superior struck something underwater Saturday and began taking on water, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard's Great Lakes District received information around 6:53 a.m. that a 689-foot-long (210-meter-long) vessel called Michipicoten had collided with something about 35 miles (56 kilometers) to the southwest of Isle Royale, part of the state of Michigan. The ship was carrying taconite, a low-grade iron ore, and had 22 people on board.

Water pumps on board began moving water, authorities said, and there were no signs that anything had spilled from the ship. By about 9:15 a.m., water pumps had reduced the cargo ship's list from 15 degrees to 5 degrees, the Coast Guard said.

Helicopter and boat crews responded, the Coast Guard said.

Around 12:30 p.m., the coast guard said half of the people on board had been evacuated from the ship for safety reasons. The ship was en route to a port for inspection and repair.

Authorities say the cause of the collision will be investigated.

The collision occurred in the northwest part of the lake, which straddles the Canada-U.S. border and is the world's largest freshwater lake by surface area.