Taconite drops into the motor vessel Philip R. Clarke off the conveyor belt of the grounded self-unloader Roger Blough
JUNE 3, 2016 — The U.S. Coast Guard says that it continues to observe and reply as lightering operations, which started this morning, proceed on the grounded Great Lakes self-unloading bulker Roger Blough.
The vessel, which is owned by Great Lakes Fleet and operated by Keystone Shipping subsidiary Key Lakes, ran aground May 27 on Gros Cap Reef in Whitefish Bay in Lake Superior.
Yesterday, one other Great Lakes Fleet self-unloading bulker, the Philip R. Clarke arrived on scene with the Blough and lightering operations began at 5:45 a.m. this morning.
The Coast Guard says that the protection perimeter has been elevated from 500 yards to 750 yards.
Plans proceed to progress to securely free the Blough from Gros Cap Reef by means of the mixed efforts of Canadian companions, firm representatives and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Boom stays in place on the rear of the vessel as a preventative measure in opposition to air pollution and Canadian Coast Guard Environmental Response personnel are in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, with a big stock of air pollution management gear with procedures in place and gear available for all doable ship-source spill eventualities.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers might be offering help for lightering operations and can make sure the Birch Point Range channel is protected for navigation after the Blough is faraway from the grounding web site.
There have been no adjustments within the charge of flooding and the crew stays in good situation.
A Transport Canada overflight was performed Thursday afternoon and reported no air pollution.
The motor vessel Phillip R. Clarke arrives on scene with the motor vessel Roger Blough
Photo courtesy of Transport Canada
