1,000-foot coal freighter blocks St. Marys channel

SAULT STE MARIE, Mich. (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard says crews are working to free a grounded 1,000-foot coal freighter blocking the outbound channel of the St. Marys River that links lakes Superior and Huron.

According to the Coast Guard, the grounding happened about 3 a.m. Wednesday. It said there are no reports of injuries or pollution but said the vessel has sustained damage.

The Paul R. Tregurtha is owned by Interlake Shipping Co. of Richfield, Ohio, and carried about 62,000 tons of coal. The ship is grounded on the west side of Neebish Island, spanning the shipping channel that leads to Lake Huron.

According to the Coast Guard, its personnel are working closely with the freighter’s owners and others “to determine the safest approach to re-floating the vessel.”