Tugs Trying To Free Freighter In Detroit River

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(AP) GROSSE ILE, Mich. (AP) - A coal-carrying freighter was stubbornly stuck Friday after running aground in the Detroit River, and salvagers could be forced to unload some of its cargo to help tugboats pull the vessel free.

Even with five tugs, crews struggled to dislodge the 579-foot McKee Sons from where the barge sat in the Trenton Channel, south of Detroit, U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Justin Westmiller told The Associated Press.

"Our plan is to continue to pull throughout the night," he said.

If that doesn't work, he added, some of the coal may have to be unloaded.

The barge originated in Cleveland and was pushed by the tug, "Invincible," west through Lake Erie then north into the Detroit River, where it ran aground about 3:15 a.m. Friday about 18 miles south of Detroit. It was headed for the Detroit Edison Pier.

The Invincible did not get stuck.

Throughout Friday, salvage crews brought in more tugboats to try to pull the McKee Sons loose. A fifth tug joined the effort Friday afternoon, Westmiller said.

There were no signs that the barge's cargo had caused any pollution in the channel, Westmiller said. But the tug operations did affect vessel traffic in the channel.

Once the McKee Sons is pulled free, it will be tugged to the Detroit Edison Pier and docked.

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12/26 - Efforts to free a freighter stuck in the Detroit River were suspended Saturday because not enough crew members were available on Christmas to operate tugboats needed to dislodge it, U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Justin Westmiller said.

Five tugboats momentarily dislodged the ship about 9 p.m. Friday from where the barge sat in mud in the Trenton Channel, about 18 miles south of Detroit. But as crews were twisting to get it maneuvered around, it got stuck again in the channel where rescuers are pulling against 3.5-knot currents, Westmiller said.

Two more tugboats are being brought from Ohio to try to help.

The lake freighter owned by Ohio-based Grand River Navigation is in good shape, and theres no threat to its crew, Westmiller said. The ship was headed to the Detroit Edison Pier when it got stuck about 3 a.m. Friday. Its less than 500 yards from its final destination, Westmiller said.

Grand River Navigation officials were expected to submit a detailed salvage plan for Coast Guard approval before renewing salvage efforts for the ship. It is not immediately known how much coal was onboard when it ran aground.

Refloating efforts are expecting to resume around 11 a.m.

Detroit Free Press

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(AP) GROSSE ILE, Mich. (AP) - Seven tugboats have succeeded in freeing a 579-foot coal-hauling Great Lakes freighter that was grounded for two days in the Detroit River south of Detroit.

The McKee ran aground Friday near Grosse Ile while trying to dock at a DTE Energy Co. site.

The freighter came from Cleveland with a load of 11,900 tons of coal and a crew of 17. It has a hauling capacity of 29,500 tons.

The U.S. Coast Guard says efforts to free the freighter resumed Sunday after a Christmas break.

Guard Lt. Justin Westmiller says two more tugs joined the five already working to free the freighter.

Westmiller says the ship was freed about 2:45 p.m. Sunday and has docked at its destination.

[yachtsmanwilly]

This is almost 5000 HP and they needed another 2500 to get the job done. To fucking bad piscal wasnt there telling them how to do it... Hmmm ws