Responders place protective boom around the stern of the motor vessel Roger Blough, which ran aground on May 27, near Gros Cap Reefs Light in Lake Superior, May 30, 2016. Responders deployed the boom strictly as a preventative measure around the location of the Blough's fuel tanks. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Cmdr. Merridith Morrison)
Two freighters transit upbound the Soo Locks past the safety zone established by the U.S. Coast Guard around the motor vessel Roger Blough near Gros Cap Reefs Light, May 30, 2016 in Lake Superior. The safety zone was established after the Blough ran aground on the reef May 27. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher M. Yaw)
Lt. Gordon Gertiser, a marine inspector with U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie, inspects the engine room for possible damage aboard the motor vessel Roger Blough, May 30, 2016, in Lake Superior. Gertiser and his fellow crewmembers are inspecting the Blough after it ran aground on Gros Cap Reef on May 27. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Creighton Chong)
Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Bay, homeported in Sturgeon Bay, Wisc., enforces a 500 yard safety zone around the motor vessel Roger Blough, May 30, 2016, in Lake Superior.Mobile Bay enforced the safety zone during salvage operations after the Blough ran aground on Gros Cap Reef May 27. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Creighton Chong)
The motor vessel Edgar B. Speer safely passes the safety zone around the motor vessel Roger Blough and responders near Gros Cap Reefs Light in Lake Superior, May 30, 2016. The U.S. Coast Guard established a 500 yard saftey zone around the Blough, after the vessel ran aground on Gros Cap Reef May 27. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Yaw)
SAULT STE MARIE, Mich. — The Coast Guard continues to monitor and respond to the motor vessel Roger Blough, Monday, after the vessel ran aground Friday afternoon on Gros Cap Reef in Whitefish Bay in Lake Superior.
Plans continue to progress to safely free the Blough from Gros Cap Reef through the combined efforts of Canadian partners, company representatives, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
In conjunction with the Blough's vessel response plan, boom has been deployed around the stern, in the area of the vessel's fuel tanks, strictly as a precautionary measure to ensure the continued safety of the environment. Safety inspections also continued throughout the ship.
A Coast Guard Auxiliary aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, Michigan, conducted an overflight of the area late Sunday morning and reported no signs of pollution.
Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Bay remains on scene to enforce the 500 yard safety zone around the Blough. The zone and salvage operations continue to have little impact on vessel traffic transiting through the area.
The chance of a fuel spill remains minimal and flooding on the Blough has continued to remain stable. The crew is in good condition and their needs are being tended to as they arise.
Representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board are scheduled to arrive tonight to assist the Coast Guard in investigating the cause of the grounding.
Information updates will continue to be released as they become available and previous releases for this response can are available: release 1, update, update 2, update 3, update 4.
Media with questions should contact Lt. Creighton Chong or Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Yaw at Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie, at: 906-635-3309.
