Freighter stranded on Detroit River is now freed

STRAIT – A freighter that ran aground on the Detroit River was freed Thursday.

the The US Coast Guard tweeted that the Harvest Spirit has been refloated and will be subject to further inspection.

The U.S. Coast Guard was helping Transport Canada put together a rescue plan for the cargo ship, which ran aground in the Livingstone Channel of the Detroit River at around 7 a.m. Wednesday, interrupting shipping on Thursday.

The Harvest Spirit was stuck between Grosse Ile and Bois Blanc. A second boat struck Wednesday afternoon trying to avoid the ship.

The shipment was on its way to the Amherstburg Channel of the Detroit River, east of Bois Blanc Island. Several transport ships stood nearby as the Amherstburg Canal was unable to handle large freighters like the Livingstone Canal can.

“We have ships stacked in Lake Huron near Port Huron and in the Detroit River below Detroit,” said Eric Peace, director of operations and communications for the Lake Carriers Association, based in Westlake, Ohio, who represents ships operating under the American flag. on the Great Lakes.

The Detroit River is one of the busiest rivers on the planet for commercial shipping. It is not known how many ships are affected by the closure of the Livingstone Channel.

No pollution or injuries were reported.

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