Updated 9:53 a.m. June 16
SAULT STE. MARIE — The M/V Hon. James L. Oberstar began its journey Sunday from Carbide Dock to Fraser Shipyards in Superior, Wisconsin, under escort by Hay Lake Marine Casualty responders, following a marine incident earlier this month.
The Hay Lake Marine Casualty Unified Command approved the vessel’s 28-hour transit after reviewing engineering assessments and receiving guidance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard’s Salvage Engineering Response Team. Officials determined the freighter is structurally sound for the trip.
“This incident is not complete until the vessel is safe and secure at Fraser Shipyard,” said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. James Bendle, the Federal On-Scene Coordinator for the Unified Command. “Everyone supporting this response is highly focused on ensuring that personnel aboard and escorting the vessel are safe, that our waterways and wildlife are protected, and that any impacts to economic activity are mitigated.”
A containment boom will be on standby when the Oberstar arrives in Superior as a precautionary measure.
The Unified Command is composed of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Chippewa County, and Interlake Steamship Company. It is supported by multiple federal, state, tribal, and local partners.
Advising agencies include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the Bay Mills Indian Community, and the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The response also involved bilateral coordination between Canadian and U.S. agencies under the Canada-United States Joint Marine Pollution Contingency Plan and its Great Lakes Annex, known as CANUSLAK.
Updates on the response are available on X.com @USCGGreatLakes. Media inquiries can be directed to the Coast Guard’s Sector Northern Great Lakes Command Center at 906-635-3319.
Update: 12:06 p.m. June 11
SAULT STE. MARIE — A Unified Command was established Tuesday to coordinate the response and salvage efforts following a marine incident involving the freighter Honorable James L. Oberstar in the St. Marys River near Neebish Island.
The vessel reported strong vibrations around 3:50 p.m. Sunday while traveling east of Neebish Island and is now anchored in Hay Lake, Michigan. No injuries were reported, and there are currently no signs of pollution in the water or the surrounding area.
The Oberstar, which was carrying limestone at the time of the incident, has a maximum fuel and product capacity of 108,000 gallons. Officials say the situation remains stable.
The Unified Command includes the U.S. Coast Guard, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Chippewa County, and Interlake Steamship Company.
Additional support is being provided by multiple federal, state, and local agencies, along with the Army Corps of Engineers, the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the Bay Mills Indian Community, and the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Operational priorities for the response include ensuring the safety of the public and responders, protecting wildlife and the environment, minimizing economic disruption, and safely returning the vessel to transit.
Updates will be posted on X.com @USCGGreatLakes. Media inquiries can be directed to the Unified Command’s Public Information Officer at 906-748-0539.
Updated 10 p.m. June 11
SAULT STE. MARIE — The U.S. Coast Guard continues to investigate how a freighter was damaged after it ran aground Sunday afternoon near Neebish Island on the St. Marys River.
The 806-foot Honorable James L. Oberstar, owned by Interlake Steamship Company, grounded while attempting to make the turn at Johnsons Point, about 30 miles downriver from the Soo Locks, the company said.
After the incident, the freighter anchored roughly 12 miles upriver of Johnson’s Point and notified the Coast Guard, which responded to the scene and has been monitoring the situation since.
Initial findings suggest a fuel tank carrying marine fuel oil may have been damaged, but officials say there have been no reports of a leak.
“A major concern of ours is managing any pollution threat to the environment,” said Lt. Joseph Snyder of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes. “We are really pleased with the actions that the vessel and subcontractors have taken so far. They already have 600 feet of containment boom around the vessel.”
At the time of the incident, the Oberstar was transporting nearly 30,000 tons of stone to Marquette.
The Coast Guard investigation is ongoing.
Original story
SAULT STE. MARIE — Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes personnel responded to a marine vessel casualty regarding the Honorable James L. Oberstar, an 806-foot bulk cargo ship, on Hay Lake, Michigan.
Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes dispatched a boat crew from Station Sault Sainte Marie. Personnel aboard the Honorable James L. Oberstar notified the Coast Guard at 3:50 p.m. on June 8, of vibrations while underway east of Neebish Island in the St. Marys River.
The Coast Guard initiated a marine investigation. There are currently no signs of pollution. The vessel was carrying limestone at the time of the incident, and reported that there were no injuries on board.
The vessel is currently anchored in Hay Lake, Michigan. 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.
For more information, contact Lt. Joseph Snyder, Public Affairs Officer, at 906-748-0539 or via email at joseph.d.snyder@uscg.mil