St. Marys River closed to downbound traffic following cargo vessel grounding

SAULT STE. MARIE — U.S. Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes is coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reopen the channel to downbound traffic on the St. Marys River today.

According to a Jan. 13 news release, the upbound traffic channel on the St. Marys River remains open.

A 497-foot bulk cargo vessel experienced a mechanical failure and ran aground while traveling downbound on the St. Marys River yesterday at approximately 5 p.m.

“Because the vessel is Canadian flagged, it will need to be approved by either the vessel’s classification society or Transport Canada before it will be cleared to continue transiting the river,” said Lieutenant Joseph Snyder, USCG Sector Northern Great Lakes.

“The vessel reported just some minor dings and dents from running along that soft bottom. But no water ingress, no holes, or big gashes in the hull or anything like that. It’s definitely what you would like to hear when that report comes in,” Lt. Snyder said.

The cargo vessel was carrying canola seed at the time of the incident; there were no reports of injuries aboard and no pollution caused by the incident. After it regained power, the vessel floated free from the mud bottom and shifted to anchorage in Mud Lake with a tug escort.