St. Marys River closed in Sault Ste. Marie after 'marine casualty'
St. Marys River in the Sault Ste. Marie area is closed to traffic following a 'marine casualty' involving a commercial vessel, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release Thursday.
While the term marine casualty sounds concerning, U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Joseph Snyder told CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca in a phone interview it can mean a variety of things such as something as simple as losing one of the two generators on board to a crew member being injured.
American Mariner ship struck a concrete navigation aid in Munuscong Lake. March 28, 2024 (U.S. Coast Guard)
The incident happened at 12:20 a.m. March 28 near Munuscong Lake Junction, also known locally as 'Mud Lake', vessel traffic service director Justin Bravatto told CTV News in a phone interview.
A navigation aid made out of concrete was struck by an empty bulk cargo ship headed north to Silver Bay, Minn., Snyder said.
The ship sustained some damage, but it is stable and there are no immediate concerns about it sinking or capsizing, he said.
Additionally, there has been no pollution of the water as a result of the incident.
No one was injured in the incident, Bravatto said.
The river – which sits between Sault, Mich. and Sault, Ont. – is closed from Nine Mile Point to Point Aux Frenes.
"There is currently no estimated time for re-opening of the St. Marys River," the coast guard said.
"Vessel Traffic Service St. Marys River will provide updates on the restoration of the waterway as conditions improve."
St. Marys River closed between Ninemile Point and Point Aux Frenes (Google Maps)
Snyder said investigators are on scene and are still determining what happened and how bad the damage is.
Once it is assessed, officials will determine the best course of action.
"We do have some commercial tug boats on the way," he said.
American Mariner hit a concrete navigation aid in Munuscong Lake. March 28, 2024 (U.S. Coast Guard)
Traffic on St. Marys River reopened Friday evening.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.