Historic 72-year-old Great Lake Bulk Carrier Hits Object Underwater Near Minnesota

Canadian and US officials have started investigations following the incident of a 689-foot vessel colliding with an underwater object and taking on water in Lake Superior, per the US Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard further responded when the bulk carrier dubbed the Michipicoten reported, around 6:53 a.m. on Saturday, that it was experiencing massive flooding as it sailed southwest of Isle Royale in Lake Superior.

The merchant vessel was loaded with taconite, a low-grade iron ore, the Coast Guard stated on X.

A news release stated that Half of the vessel’s 22-member crew was removed following the incident.

No injuries had been reported on the vessel.

As noted on Sunday, the vessel is anchored in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and will be carried to a dock once the Canadian agencies deem it safe to do so, mentioned Lorne Thomas, the chief of the external affairs division associated with the Ninth Coast Guard District.

The US Coast Guard and Transport Canada will conduct marine casualty investigations to determine whether the hull damage was caused by the vessel running aground, hitting a fixed or floating object, hull failure, or a combination of all of these, per Thomas.

Thomas mentioned that there isn’t any indication that the navigable channels used by the vessel were obstructed.

The vessel departed Two Harbors in Minnesota on Friday and was headed to Thunder Bay based in Canada, per data received via MarineTraffic.com.

Reference: CNN