MICHIPICOTEN

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Latest news

Hull damage may have been stress fracture

The 'Michipicoten', which berthed in Thunder Bay on June 8, suffered a 13-foot crack in its hull, but the mishap likely wasn't caused by an underwater collision as originally thought, the U.S. Coast Guard said on the evening of June 10. The 'Michipicoten' was en route from Two Harbors to Thunder Bay on June 8, when it began taking on water. Half of the ship's 22 crew members were evacuated, and the vessel then limped on to Thunder Bay, listing at 5 degrees, under its own power. It was accompanied part of the way by another bulk carrier, the 'Edwin H. Gott', with the assistance of the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Border Patrol and Park Service boatsAn underwater collision still can't be 100 % ruled out, but there was no evidence to indicate the ship struck a submerged object. The gash in the ship's hull was likely due to a stress fracture. Divers found a 13-foot foot crack below the water line in the general area of the bow. The crack varied from one-half inch to one inch wide. A ballast tank flooded due to the crack, as did the centerline void. Temporary patches wee being installed on the ship in Thunder Bay to make it seaworthy again.. The vessel is then expected to sail under its own power to another port where more extensive repairs will be made. The 'Michipicoten' was berthed at the Keefer Terminal in Thunder Bay while investigators from the U.S. and Canada tried to figure out what has happened. Report with photo and video: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/coast-guard-lake-superior-freighter-has-13-foot-crack-but-likely-not-from-collision/ar-BB1nYAxt?item=flightsprg-tipsubsc-v1a?season=2024/

Great Laker damaged by underwater obstruction

The 'Michipicoten', with 22 people on board, issued an emergency call on June 8 at 7 a.m., that it had started taking on water and developing an increasing list. The crew said they believed they had hit an unknown object in the water while located about 35 miles southwest of Michigan's Isle Royale, while underway on the Lake Superior, near Grand Portage, Minnesota. The ship suffered water ingress, but was able to stabilize the flooding and was escorted to Thunder Bay. The ship had departed Two Harbors, Minnesota, on June 7. The bulker wa loaded with a cargo of taconite. The Coast Guard did not observe spills or pollution from the ongoing incident. The 'Michipicoten' berthed in Thunder Bay at 11.45 p.m. UTC. Report with photo: https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2024/06/09/freighter-that-took-on-water-in-lake-superior-safely-anchored-probe-underway/74035539007/

Cargo ship caused oil spill in Thunder Bay

Port officials in Thunder Bay have almost finished cleaning up nearly 200 litres of oil that spilled into the Great Lakes in the evening of Aug 30, 2015, after the "Michipicoten" unintentionally released the fuel oil into Lake Superior. The vessel left the port again on Sep 3 at 11 a.m. The Canadian Coast Guard had laid out floating barriers werewhich effective in containing the wasted fuel. The process of cleaning up was also aided with the help of unique sponges that were able to absorb oil. Provincial officials have been tasked with disposing of the spilled oil.