SAULT SAINTE MARIE, Mich. — Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes personnel is responding to a marine vessel casualty on Hay Lake, Michigan.
Personnel aboard the Honorable James L. Oberstar, an 806-foot bulk cargo ship, notified the Coast Guard at 3:50 p.m. on Sunday of vibrations while underway east of Neebish Island in the St. Marys River. Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes dispatched a boat crew from Station Sault Sainte Marie.
The Coast Guard initiated a marine investigation. The vessel was carrying limestone at the time of the incident and reported there were no injuries on board. The vessel has a total maximum capacity of 108,000 gallons of fuel and other product. There are no reports of pollution in the water or surrounding area.
The Army Corps of Engineers conducted a survey of the channel and verified it was safe for commercial marine traffic. The St. Marys River remains open to vessel traffic. A unified command (UC) was established on Tuesday for response and salvage efforts.
The UC consists of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Chippewa County, and Interlake Steamship Company. Multiple federal, state, local, and partner organizations are also assisting in the response. Representatives from the Northern Michigan Area Committee including the Army Corps of Engineers, the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the Bay Mills Tribe, and the City of Sault Ste Marie Ontario are participating and advising the UC throughout the response.
The UC’s operational priorities are ensuring the safety of the public and responders, protecting wildlife and the environment, ensuring economic activities in the area are minimally affected, and the safe transit of the vessel.
