Investigations into water emergency involving Canadian ship Michipicoten in Lake Superior continue

THUNDER BAY, Ontario (Northern News Now) – The Michipicoten is safely anchored in Thunder Bay after launching on Saturday.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, a distress call came in around 7 a.m. Saturday morning about a water shortage that occurred 35 miles southwest of Isle Royale in Lake Superior.

The ship was carrying taconite and initial reports indicate it struck something underwater and began taking on water.

Eric Peace, vice president of the Lake Carriers’ Association, said the Edwin H. Gott, a ship in the Great Lakes Fleet, was assisting the vessel.

“So we immediately diverted our ship,” Peace said. “We went there and didn’t know exactly what was going on with the ship.”

Peace says they assisted the ship for four hours while a National Parks Service and Coast Guard boat helped them rescue people from the Michipicoten.

“They blocked some of the waves while they launched the lifeboats. 11 people were rescued from the ship, 11 stayed on board,” Peace said. “But 11 were rescued just in case we could help make sure everything was safe.”

Jayson Hron, communications and marketing director for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, says all vessels go through a series of maintenance and inspection routines before they are allowed on the water.

“And we make sure that all the machinery on the ships is in perfect condition,” said Hron. “This is one of the parts of the winter work routine that these ships complete every year to make sure they are seaworthy.”

Peace says that in his personal experience, such incidents are not very common, but says they often prepare for situations like this.

“We do regular drills with our team throughout the season. Again, it’s a response on our part to get them to help,” Peace said.

No injuries were reported and the exact cause is still under investigation.

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