On June 8th, U.S. Coast Guard personnel responded to the 689-foot bulk carrier M/V Michipicoten taking on water in Lake Superior, Grand Portage, Minnesota.
Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes was contacted via VHF channel 16 at approximately 7 a.m. with a report that the 689-foot bulk carrier Michipicoten was experiencing flooding while transiting southwest of Isle Royale, in Lake Superior.
Responding to the incident were vessels from the U.S. Coast Guard, Border Patrol, and National Park Service as well as the bulk carrier Edwin H. Gott.
Coast Guard assets involved in the response included two helicopters from Air Station Traverse City and a response boat from Station Bayfield.
The Coast Guard coordinated with a National Park Service boat from Isle Royale to transfer 11 of the 22 crew members from the Michipicoten for safety reasons. No injuries were reported during the incident.
The bulk carrier eventually proceeded to port in Thunder Bay to complete inspections. The ship docked at Keefer Terminal, according to Thunder Bay Port Authority.
Following an initial inspection, the U.S. Coast Guard announced that the cause of the flooding was caused by a crack in the ship’s hull.
A temporary patch was applied and the vessel was relocated for repairs. The incident effectively ended the shipping season for the ship.
M/V Michipicoten (IMO: 5102865) is a Self Discharging Bulk Carrier that sails under the flag of Canada.
History of the Michipicoten, according to Lower Lakes Towing:
The ship was built as a straight-back bulk carrier in 1952 and launched as the Elton Hoyt (2) for Interlake Steamship Company.
In 1957 she was lengthened 72 feet, to an overall length 698 feet.
In 1980 the vessel was converted to a self-unloader at American Ship Building Company in Toledo.
In 2003, the vessel was renamed S/S Michipicoten.
In 2010 an extensive refitting of the Michipicoten was performed in Sarnia, Ontario. The vessel was converted from steam-power to a state of the art MaK twin diesel 6000Kw propulsion plan.
The new propulsion and generator configuration allows the vessel to run one main engine and one shaft alternator in port to supply ship’s power to the unloading equipment and ship’s service load.
While underway one of the two shaft alternators is able to supply the ship’s power to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
M/V Michipicoten transports an array of bulk commodities including stone, iron ore, coal, and other materials.
Other bulk carriers in the Lower Lakes Towing fleet include M/V Cuyahoga, M/V Manitoulin, M/V Robert S. Pierson, and M/V Saginaw.
In past shipping seasons, the crew of the Michipicoten has also aided mariners in distress on the Great Lakes.
In August, 2015, M/V Michipicoten responded to a distress call put out by U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. warning that a 42-foot sail boat that was taking on water in Lake Huron.
Michipicoten’s captain located the vessel and maneuvered the bulk carrier upwind, providing shelter until Coast Guard and lpena Sheriff’s Department vessels and Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City crews could assist.
In July, 2019, while en route to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, the crew of the M/V Michipicoten undertook a search operation in Lake Superior which led to the successful rescue of a jet skier.
The mission began when Michipicoten Captain Jonathan Barnes received a call from United States Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Soo regarding a missing jet skier, whose last location was very close to the vessel’s intended track approximately 25 nautical miles south of Isle in Lake Superior.
The crew of the bulk carrier located and recovered the mariner along with the jet ski and transported both man and machine to Sault Ste. Marie.
Early History
As ELTON HOYT II, the vessel experienced two incidents, according to Bowling Green State University Historical Collections of the Great Lakes:
“Encountered difficulty in approach downbound at the Soo on May 15, 1975; dropped anchor to avoid trouble, but apparently ran over it, holing herself and taking some water. On a trip to Escanaba, MI, to Ashtabula, OH, suffered a cracked hull in heavy seas off Point Aux Barques, MI. She stopped at Detroit where a temporary patch was fitted and then continued to Ashtabula where she will lay-up for the winter. (Documented January 28, 1984)”
sources: U.S. Coast Guard 9th District, Randlog.com, Bowling Green State University Historical Collections of the Great Lakes
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