USCG Ninth District posted this image of the Mark W. Barker whereas it was nonetheless aground.
The 639-foot Great Lakes bulker Mark W. Barker ran gentle aground at 8.00 am at this time within the Detroit River off Belle Isle, the U.S. Coast Guard’s Ninth District tweeted this morning, noting that no accidents, air pollution, or harm had been reported. The vessel was carrying a cargo of salt and the river remained open to all site visitors.
“Planning underway to refloat & determine cause,” stated the Coast Guard.
Just a number of hours later, the refloat efforts had succeeded.
“Commercial salvage freed the Mark W. Barker & is assisting them to Detroit Rvr Belle Isle anchorage,” Ninth District stated in a subsequent tweet. “Once anchored, Coast Guard investigators will board, assess any damages, and ensure any repairs.”
ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION
In a launch later within the day, Coast Guard Sector Detroit stated that the vessel had run aground “due to an electronics malfunction” and that, arrying roughly 21,000 metric tons of salt and 105,000 gallons of diesel gasoline, the Mark W. Barker remained secure all through the incident with no indicators of air pollution discharge or hull harm reported.
The Coast Guard labored carefully with the vessel proprietor, Interlake Steamship Company, in addition to port companions and the Canadian Coast Guard to develop and execute the refloat plan. The ship was assisted by towing vessel to the Belle Isle anchorage, the place Coast Guard investigators will assess any damages and guarantee repairs are accomplished as obligatory earlier than the vessel resumes its voyage.
VESSEL OF THE YEAR
Delivered to Interlake Steamship final yr by Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, the 639-foot lengthy Mark W. Barker is the primary newbuild Great Lakes bulker to be delivered in practically 40 years and was chosen as Marine Log’s Vessel of the Year for 2022.
The trendy laker could be very removed from being a repeat of the vessels constructed 4 or extra many years in the past.
“This new vessel not only brings with it additional cargo carrying capacity and capabilities, it is the most versatile in our fleet and strategically sized to navigate into nearly any port on the Great Lakes,” stated Brendan P. O’Connor, Interlake’s vice chairman of promoting and marine site visitors because the vessel launched into its maiden voyage. “The M/V Mark W. Barker will give us unmatched ability for cargo operations and to carry unique project cargoes because of both her square-shaped cargo hold and larger hatch openings. She truly was designed to be a vessel for the future.”
Video from the Detroit River Watch webcam captured the profitable refloating of the vessel.
