SAULT STE MARIE (WWJ) A freighter in Lake Superior started taking on water after it collided with an underwater object, forcing the evacuation of half of its crew, the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes said.
In a statement on X, the U.S. Coast Guard said their personnel responded to the 689-foot bulk carrier, called the Michipicoten, taking on water near Grand Portage, Minnesota after they received a call Saturday (6/8/24) morning.
The Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes was contacted around 7 a.m., saying the Michipicoten was experiencing the flooding while traveling in Lake Superior about 35 miles southwest of Isle Royale, Michigan.
Half the 22-person crew was removed from the ship “for safety,” the U.S. Coast Guard said.
The bulk carrier is now on its way to a nearby port for inspections and repairs, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
“The cause of the flooding and any other damage to the vessel will be investigated once the situation is stabilized,” the statement read.
Further updates revealed the freighter was carrying taconite, pellets that are broken down to make steel. Onboard pumps displaced some of the water, and there were no signs of spillage, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
The bulk carrier Edwin H. Gott is alongside the Michipicoten; and the U.S. Coast Guard, Border Patrol, and National Park Service vessels all remain active.
This is a developing story. Keep it tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 on air, online and on the Audacy app for the latest developments.