Probe launched following maritime accident involving vessel hitting unidentified underwater item and sustaining water damage in Lake Superior, confirms US Coast Guard.
A bulk carrier named Michipicoten reported flooding issues at 6:53 a.m. on Saturday while sailing southwest of Isle Royale in Lake Superior. It was carrying taconite, a low-grade iron ore, the Coast Guard informed us.
In response to the incident, half of the ship's 22-person crew was taken off the vessel. Fortunately, no injuries were reported onboard. Current situation is that the ship's anchored in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Once it's deemed safe by Canadian authorities, it'll be brought to the dock.
The US Coast Guard and Transport Canada will be responsible for investigating the cause of the hull damage. They'll look into whether the ship ran aground, collided with a fixed or floating object, suffered hull failure, or a mixture of these issues. No signs suggest the navigable channels used by the ship were blocked, according to Lorne Thomas, the Ninth Coast Guard District's external affairs division chief.
The vessel left Two Harbors, Minnesota, on Friday and was en route to Thunder Bay, Canada, as per information from MarineTraffic.com.
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The US Coast Guard is working alongside Transport Canada to investigate the incident involving the Michipicoten. The crew members who were safe aboard the vessel are currently under the care of US authorities.
