USCG continues response to grounded laker

Preventative booming has been placed around grounded laker

MAY 31, 2016 — The U.S. Coast Guard today was continues to monitor and respond to the motor vessel Roger Blough.

The 833 ft, 1972-built self-unloading bulker, owned by Great Lakes Fleet, Inc, ran aground Friday afternoon on Gros Cap Reef in Whitefish Bay in Lake Superior.

Today, the Coast Guard says that plans continue to progress to safely free the Blough from Gros Cap Reef through the combined efforts of Canadian partners, company representatives and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Salvage divers from Donjon-Smit plan to begin an underwater survey of the vessel’s hull today in an effort to identify any damage the Blough may have sustained during the grounding.

A National Transportation Safety Board representative arrived last night and is assisting Coast Guard investigators to determine the cause of the grounding.

Preventative booming remains in place around the vessel and a Coast Guard Auxiliary overflight was scheduled to take place early this afternoon with a Coast Guard pollution responder aboard.

Yesterday the Coast Guard said that no signs of pollution were detected by an overflight of the area late Sunday morning.

A 500 yard safety zone imposed around the Blough continued to have little impact on vessel traffic transiting through the area.The crew is reported to be in good condition and its needs are being tended to as they arise.