Channel Cleared after freighter runs aground

DETROIT – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, sends crews out to the St. Marys River to clear the channel near Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., so shipping in the area can resume.
Crews from the Soo and Duluth area offices are working to clear the channel where the Paul R. Tregurtha ran aground yesterday morning. The Tregurtha is no longer grounded, however a significant shoal developed in the channel following recovery operations.
Corps crews are responsible for surveying areas around ship groundings to determine if the federal navigation channel is clear. The Corps is currently working to remove gravel and rocks from the navigation channel. The channel will be opened as soon as it is cleared sufficiently to allow safe passage.
There are currently 11 vessels that have been delayed by the grounding incident.
The Paul R. Tregurtha is owned by Interlake Shipping Co. of Richfield, Ohio, and was carrying about 62,000 tons of coal. The ship was grounded on the west side of Neebish Island in the St. Marys River channel that leads to Lake Huron. The shipping company was able to get the ship free and moved out of the channel early this morning.
For more details, contact Lynn Rose, public affairs officer, 313-226-4680.