Freighter Has Close Call with Seawall

Great Lakes- Knutsen OAS Shipping crews are working to remove a 533-foot Norwegian tanker, the SIDSEL KNUTSEN, which is sitting in the St. Clair River near the Pine River in St. Clair.

The U.S. Coast Guard's Detroit sector said the efforts to get the ship moving again could take up to a week.

Reports say the Sidsel Knutsen sustained an engine-room fire about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday and, while those on board were fighting the blaze, the ship's master and pilot decided to steer the vessel out of the main shipping lane to avoid any problems within the channel. The ship dropped its starboard anchor.

The ship was southbound when it hit a buoy at the south end of the Middle Ground, a shallow area in the middle of the river. It then swung around and headed for the sea wall -- dropping its anchor before making contact.

The fire was on the waste-heat economizer within the main exhaust stack. The crew put out the blaze with hoses and water.

Coast Guard inspectors found major damage to the main diesel engine and the exhaust stack. Officials say this accident posses no threat of pollution.

Currently the entrance from the Pine River to the St. Clair River is partially blocked, but recreational boats have enough room to get around the freighter.

People at a nearby restaurant were reportedly screaming and panicking as the freighter neared the seawall.