SAULT STE MARIE, Mich. — The U.S. Coast Guard continues to monitor and respond to the motor vessel Roger Blough, Wednesday, 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.
DonJon-Smit salvage divers have completed their underwater survey of the Blough's hull and the salvage plan is being revised to reflect on-scene conditions.
Lightering operations are scheduled to begin by Friday, June 3, with the motor vessel Philip R. Clarke identified as the receiving vessel.
Boom remains in place at the rear of the vessel as a preventative measure against pollution and Canadian Coast Guard Environmental Response personnel are in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, with a large inventory of pollution control equipment with procedures in place and equipment readily available for all possible ship-source spill scenarios.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be providing assistance for lightering operations and will ensure the Birch Point Range channel is safe for navigation after the Blough is removed from the grounding site.
There have been no changes in the rate of flooding and the crew remains in good condition.
A Coast Guard Auxiliary overflight was also conducted this afternoon and reported no pollution.
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.
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.
For questions regarding the Canadian Coast Guard response, media should contact Carol Launderville at Fisheries and Oceans Canada 519-383-1804.