Roger Blough ran aground tonight at the mouth of Whitefish Bay, will be a little late
https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/...ish-bay-305736
https://vmcdn.ca/f/files/sootoday/im...-dmh.jpg;w=630
NEWS RELEASE
U.S. COAST GUARD
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10 p.m. update
The U.S. Coast Guard and the captain of the grounded Roger Blough laker have come to an agreement that it is safe to let the 24 crew members on board would stay there over night says Lt. Creighton Chong, the public affairs officer and chief, Waterways Management Division at Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie.
There is some flooding but it is under control, added Chong.
The Roger Blough is still at the same location on the reef in Whitefish Bay.
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Original story 7 p.m.
SAULT STE MARIE, Michigan — Coast Guard crews are responding to a grounded freighter in Whitefish Bay in Lake Superior Friday afternoon.
The motor vessel Roger Blough, an 858 ft U.S. Cargo vessel, has run aground in the vicinity of Gros Cap Reef in Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior with reports of flooding.
All crew members are reported safe with no injuries. Crew reports no sign of pollution in the water.
Multiple U.S. Coast Guard assets are on scene to ensure the safety of the crew and the environment and to assess the extent of damage.
More information will be released as it becomes available.
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Editor's note: The Roger Blough is a self discharging carrier built to ship taconite ore pellets. It was christened in June of 1972 and named in honor of a retired Chairman of the Board of the United States Steel Corporation. The Roger Blough was last located heading out of Duluth, MN at about noon on Thursday and was due to dock at Conneaut, OH at about 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 29.
Update from a cousin on the scene
Here is a shot of the Roger Blough... from the top of the Pt. Iroquois Lighthouse today.
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...e0&oe=57CCCA62
This ship ran aground between Pt. Iroquois [[at Bay Mills) and Gros Cap [[Ontario) two days ago, and its crew had to be evacuated. It is stuck in several feet of mud, and its cargo will have to be unloaded to allow crews to free it from the lake bottom. The U.S. Coast Guard and other authorities are assuring everybody that there is no pollution leaking into the Lake, but time will tell. The ship ran aground in a channel that is traveled by at least a dozen ships per day, right in front of a lighthouse. How the heck did it run aground there?
More pix, different cousin
Big Gash bout 20 ft long right of the front thruster..gonna un load and tow if the pumps can keep up with water.
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...ce&oe=57CD7078
Topside walkthrough
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...65&oe=57CE09F5
More details from more cousins
AJ I wish I could see what the scuba divers saw when they went down there
JT When I heard they were doing a dive, I looked up the lake temperatures. Its anywhere from 45 to 50 degrees on the surface. Its gotta be wicked cold down below.
AT They will unload tonight and tow towards the Soo. Helicopter monitoring, might get some aerial shots.
Freed from Gros Cap Reef, Roger Blough rides anchor awaiting further inspection
View from King's Club Casino, the first Indian casino east of the Mississippi.
https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...e9&oe=57C736ED
Turn down your sound, lots of wind noise as the Roger Blough head out of the Locks
Yes, they were passing a ship that was tied up in the channel. Hit Gros Cap Reef. One of the cousins shared this video of her downbound coming out of the lock under tug today.
https://www.facebook.com/david.kaye....8486734967994/
Roger Blough Heading to Wisconsin for Repairs
Posted: Jun 11, 2016 7:48 PM EDTBy Lynsey Mukomel, Reporter/Anchor
A freighter that ran aground last month is heading for repairs but first it's moving through the Soo Locks.
The Roger Blough got stuck on a reef in Whitefish Bay in Chippewa County May 27th...
It's been anchored in Lake Superior [Waiska Bay] for the last week.
From here it will transit down the St. Mary's River and eventually make it to the shipyard in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin for repairs.