Oberstar remains anchored after incident
in St. Marys River Sunday
UPDATE MONDAY 11 a.m. The Hon. James L. Oberstar remains anchored in the Nine Mile (Hay Lake) Anchorage with coast guard small boats in attendance. She has a visible starboard list and her unloading boom remains swung out over the post side. The U.S. Coast Guard Press Release is as follows:
SAULT SAINTE MARIE, Mich. — Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes personnel
responded to a marine vessel casualty regarding the Honorable James L. Oberstar, an 806-foot
bulk cargo ship, on Hay Lake, Michigan.
Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes dispatched a boat crew from Station Sault Sainte
Marie.
Personnel aboard the Honorable James L. Oberstar notified the Coast Guard at 3:50 p.m.,
Sunday, of vibrations while underway east of Neebish Island in the St. Marys River.
The Coast Guard initiated a marine investigation. There are currently no signs of pollution.
The vessel was carrying limestone at the time of the incident and reported there were no injuries
on board. The vessel is currently anchored in Hay Lake, Michigan.
The Army Corps of Engineers conducted a survey of the channel and verified it was safe for
commercial marine traffic. The St. Marys River remains open to vessel traffic.
USCG
ORIGINAL REPORT: SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – Mid-afternoon Sunday the Hon. James L. Oberstar, loaded with limestone for Marquette,told Soo Traffic that she had struck something in the channel , possibly a rock, while upbound in the lower east Neebish channel. She continued upbound and dropped the hook in the Nine Mile Anchorage for inspection. Her oil spill containment boom was deployed, and a pollution response team was expected late in the evening.
The USCG closed the river to upbound traffic so a survey vessel could go down and check for obstructions. None were found and the upbound channel was reopened around 10 p.m.
The extent of damage to the Oberstar, if any, is unknown at this time. She was observed with her unloading boom swung out over the port side and she appeared to have a starboard list.
Registration Now Open for Annual Soo Boatnerd Cruise
Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Freighter Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River!
- When: Friday, June 27, 6-9 pm, rain or shine
- Where: Soo Locks Boat Tours, Dock #2 (next to the Valley Camp)
- Limit: 100 passengers
- Food: Pizza and salad included with paid passage
- General Adult Admission:
-Early Bird Adult $35.00 each (through May 31)
-Regular Adult $40.00 each (June 1-June 20)
-Procrastinator Adult $45 each (after June 20)
- Youth Admission, age 5-17: $15 flat rate
- Youth Admission, age 4 and under: FREE
- Students (age 18+) with a current, valid i.d. get a $5 discount off an adult ticket. The student must present their student i.d. when boarding.
This year’s St. Mary’s River cruise will be aboard a Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours boat on Friday, June 27. Boarding begins at 5:30 pm, and we cast off at 6pm. The cruise is three hours long. We plan to travel through the U.S. Locks, but that may change in order to chase freighters.
Pizza and salad are included in paid passage. There will be a cash bar on board. You can bring your own food and beverages (you cannot bring alcohol).
Reservations are a must, as the group is limited to 100 passengers. Mailed checks must be received no later than Friday, June 20.
If the cruise is not sold out by June 20, we will take online or cash (US funds only) reservations at the Procrastinator Price of $45.00 per General Admission ticket. Youth ticket rates stay the same as listed above.
Click link below to buy your ticket(s) online.
Contact Angie at griffinclawangie@gmail.com or 734-386-0899 if you have questions or to request any refunds. No refunds will be issued after June 19.
