Ship runs aground in Duluth harbor
Jun 17, 2018 08:59PM ● By EditorFrom the Duluth News Tribune - June 17, 2018
The 991-foot freighter American Spirit, loaded with iron ore pellets, ran aground in the Duluth harbor Sunday afternoon, closing the Aerial Lift Bridge to ship traffic for the time being.
The freighter sat askew in the harbor, with its stern just behind Great Lakes Aquarium and its bow pointing toward the Canal Park seawall at the Paulucci Building. It came to a stop just short of the seawall, but it didn’t hit it, according to Duluth Seaway Port Authority spokeswoman Adele Yorde. There were no injuries reported aboard the freighter and the Port Authority is requesting that boaters stay at least 500 yards away from the ship.
It’s unknown why the freighter ran aground, Yorde said, adding that the reason will likely be determined during an investigation into the incident that could take weeks. Duluth firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard were on scene, circling the American Spirit to determine whether the freighter was leaking oil. The Coast Guard reported Sunday evening there were no signs of pollution.
Authorities could not say Sunday evening when the ship would be moved. For more on this story, follow this link to the Duluth News Tribune website.
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/4461598-ship-runs-aground-duluth-harbor