UPDATE 10: Motor Vessel Roger refloated in Lake Superior

George Fill, a deck hand aboard the motor vessel Roger Blough, measures the amount of water in a ballast tank aboard the motor vessel in Lake Superior, June 4, 2016. The Blough ran around near the Gros Cap Reef Light more than one week ago.U.S. Coast Guard photo by Craig Gorman The motor vessel Roger Blough holds steady with assistance of support tugs as the ship is refloated after being aground on rocks for more than a week near the Gros Cap Reefs Light in Lake Superior, June 4, 2016. The Blough is scheduled to transit under its own power to a safe anchorage for repairs. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Craig Gorman

The motor vessel Roger Blough holds steady with assistance of support tugs as the ship is refloated after being aground on rocks for more than a week near the Gros Cap Reefs Light in Lake Superior, June 4, 2016. The Blough is scheduled to transit under its own power to a safe anchorage for repairs. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Craig Gorman

The motor vessel Roger Blough holds steady with assistance of support tugs as the ship is refloated after being aground on rocks for more than a week near the Gros Cap Reefs Light in Lake Superior, June 4, 2016. The Blough is scheduled to transit under its own power to a safe anchorage for repairs. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer Kenneth Kahle

SAULT STE MARIE, Mich. — The U.S. Coast Guard continues to monitor and respond as the motor vessel Roger Blough is refloated, Saturday, after the vessel ran aground May 27 on Gros Cap Reef in Whitefish Bay in Lake Superior. 

The vessel is making way under its own power to Waiska Bay where it will be further evaluated for repairs and it’s remaining cargo transferred to other vessels.

Lightering operations ended early Saturday morning and the vessel was refloated at 10:45 a.m.

The Philip R. Clarke arrived on scene with the Blough Thursday afternoon, and lightering operations started Friday at 5:45 a.m.

Plans continue to progress to safely anchor the Blough through the combined efforts of Canadian partners, company representatives and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Upper St. Marys River is closed for traffic from the locks west until the vessel is safely anchored.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provided assistance for lightering operations and will ensure the Birch Point Range channel is safe for navigation.

An overflight is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

Information updates will continue to be released as they become available; previous releases for this response are available: release 1, update, update 2, update 3, update 4, update 5, update 6, update 7, update 8 and update 9.

Media with questions should contact Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Laughlin at Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie at 216-310-2608.

For questions regarding the Canadian Coast Guard response, media should contact Carol Launderville at Fisheries and Oceans Canada at 519-383-1804.