UPDATE: Coast Guard Responds to Grounded Vessel in Lake Michigan
Personnel from Coast Guard Sector Field Office Grand Haven, Mich., continue to monitor the 579-foot integrated tug and barge Invincible, which grounded in Lake Michigan about 600 feet north of the North Manistee Breakwall and is reportedly obstructing about 30 percent of the channel.
A boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Manistee, Mich., is enforcing a safety zone 100 yards around the vessel.
Two tugboats from Sturgeon Bay, Wis., are on scene and will assist the integrated tug and barge to Sturgeon Bay. SFO Grand Haven personnel will inspect the vessel prior to departure.
Personnel from Station Manistee assisted in de-watering the vessel and commercial divers have inspected damage inflicted to the exterior of the hull during the grounding. Welders are onboard to repair a damaged shaft in the vessel's engine room.
Pollution responders from SFO Grand Haven are monitoring the situation and are developing a response plan in coordination with Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan, in Milwaukee, and the vessel owner. There is an estimated 49,000 gallons of diesel fuel aboard, and there are no indications of any pollution issues.
The Coast Guard oversees the investigation of and response to pollution threats on the navigable waters, maintains a cadre of highly trained pollution investigators and responders. They will provide oversight of the response personnel and equipment that is being utilized at the scene.
The cause of grounding is unknown and is under investigation by the Coast Guard.
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Original Report
A boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Manistee, Mich., and personnel from Coast Guard Sector Field Office Grand Haven, Mich., responded to the report of a grounded vessel with 17 people aboard near Manistee at about 5:45 a.m., CDT, Saturday.
The boatcrew from Station Manistee, aboard a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat, responded to the report of the 579-foot integrated tug and barge Invincible taking on water.
The vessel grounded in Lake Michigan about 600 feet north of the North Manistee Breakwall and is reportedly obstructing about 30 percent of the channel. The Coast Guard is enforcing a safety zone 100 yards around the vessel.
It was reported that the grounding damaged a shaft in the vessel’s engine room, causing it to begin taking on water at the rate of about two gallons per minute. There were no reported injuries.
The crew used three portable pumps to begin de-watering the vessel. Ninety-eight percent of the water onboard has been successfully removed.
Pollution responders from SFO Grand Haven are monitoring the situation and are developing a response plan in coordination with Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan, in Milwaukee, and the vessel owner. The vessel owner has arranged for commercial divers to evaluate the damage to the vessel.
The cause of the grounding is under investigation.
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Source: United States Coast Guard