American Courage runs aground in St. Clair River near Marine City
615 PM UPDATE: Three tugs were working to pull American Courage free around 6:15 p.m.and appeared to be making some progress. The vessel’s unloading boom was swung out over the port side to transfer wight away from the grounded side.
2 PM UPDATE: The tug Manitou has arrived on scene. Tugs Ontario, Pennsylvania and Tenacious headed up from Detroit. There are no reports of injuries or pollution and the cause of the grounding is under investigation. Crews from the coast guard’s Detroit sector were assigned the response. “We are working closely with Grand River Navigation, our port partners, and international, federal and state entities to ensure the safety of the waterway and the quick resolution of this incident,” said Lt. j.g. Adeeb Ahmad, Sector Detroit’s public affairs officer. “With no injuries or pollution reported, our plan is to refloat the American Courage and coordinate with partner services for assistance and safe navigation.”
MARINE CITY, MI – Authorities are currently working to free a stuck freighter that appears to have run aground in the St. Clair River on Tuesday morning.
A tipster alerted WWJ to the disabled vessel just after 7:40 a.m. near Marine City Park at 102 Pearl St. The United States Coast Guard told WWJ that they were alerted to the situation moments before and were working to get more information.
The aground freighter was identified as the American Courage registered in Wilmington, Delaware. The vessel was slated to dock at the Marine City Terminal, but has been stuck in the middle of the river for a couple hours.
As seen through a Skyline webcam in Marine City, two workers in a small boat were seeing motoring around the ship, possibly checking for any damage or leaks. Around 8 a.m. a tug boat was seen assisting the freighter. No other details were released.
WJ Newsradio 950
Algoma Bear takes another step toward completion
The new self-unloader Algoma Bear is currently having her new boom installed at the outfitting berth at the Yangzijiang shipyard in China. The self-unloading system was designed by EMSTECH in Canada and custom-built for the vessel. It was delivered by barge in sections and assembled in the shipyard on the dock. A floating crane was used to lift it up from the dock and install it on board the vessel. Once all outfitting and commissioning is completed, sea trials will follow before she sails across the ocean to Canada and enters service for Algoma Central Corp.
Courtesy Janey Anderson/Ship Junkies
Seaway employees ratify contract
CORNWALL, ON – The 360 St. Lawrence Seaway employees who were on strike for more than a week have ratified their contract. The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) says the three-year collective agreement was approved by the employees represented by the union Unifor. The Unifor-represented employees went on strike on October 22. A tentative agreement was reached this past weekend. The Seaway reopened early last Monday morning and the reopening plan was fully implemented by Wednesday.
WWNY
Obituary: Captain Anders A. Rasmussen, March 14,1947- Nov. 6, 2023
Retired Great Lakes Captain Anders A. Rasmussen lost his seven-yard battle with mesothelioma Nov. 6. Born in Denmark. He immigrated to Canada when he was 11 years old and began his maritime career in 1969 with the Canadian Coast Guard aboard the Alexander MacKenzie while stationed at Prince Rupert, BC.
In 1978 he shifted his career to the Great Lakes, joining the Algocen on April 3 at Port McNichol, ON. On May 13, 1979, Anders returned to the Algocen as firs Mate. In 1990, he was assigned captain of the Algoriver. In 2000 he became permanent skipper on the Algolake.
“He loved to tell the stories of his trip across the Atlantic with his brothers and Mom and Dad,” his wife Donna Rasmussen wrote Monday on a GoFundMe page launched to raise money for the organizations that meant the most to Anders.
“Soon after high school, he found his first true love, the sea,” she added. “Even in his last days he spoke so frequently about sailing. He had an amazing career and I’m so proud of his accomplishments. I’m so blessed that I was able to take so many trips with him and experience his love of the lakes firsthand. He never was truly at home when he was at home, he was like a fish out of water. But our lives were filled with love and laughter and our combined love of mini golf.”
Anders has requested no funeral, and no celebration of life. “As loud and bold as he was in life, he would like his departure to be a quiet passing,” Donna Rasmussen wrote.
The GoFundMe is to raise money for the organizations that meant the most to Anders; The Lamoille Area Cancer Network, Lamoille Home Health and Hospice and the Enosburg Falls Country Clubs Jr Golf program. So anything you would like to donate will be divided up the way he wished and it is with great thanks for your generosity. I hope to raise a good chunk so will leave this open until the celebration and announce how much we raised for each organization.
“Anders has left a larger-than-life mark on this life, and will leave an even bigger hole in our hearts,” she added.
