Tugs Refloat Lake Freighter on St. Clair River in Michigan

Update: The lake freighter American Courage, which ran aground in the St. Clair River Tuesday morning at 7:21 a.m. local time, was successfully refloated around 7 p.m. with the help of towing vessels from Great Lakes Towing. 

The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to the grounding of the 617-foot freighter American Courage on the St. Clair River near Marine City, Michigan.

The U.S.-flagged freighter, which is carrying 20,000 tons of stone, is stable and there have been no reports of injuries or pollution.

The Coast Guard said it was notified of the incident at 7:21 a.m. on Tuesday.

The Coast Guard is coordinating with the vessel’s owner, Grand River Navigation, on a plan to safely refloat the vessel that prioritizes the integrity of the vessel, environmental protection, and minimizes the economic impact.

Although the river remains open to shipping, a marine safety broadcast has been issued to notify mariners to use caution while transiting the area.

“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.”

A full investigation into the incident is underway to determine its cause and evaluate any impacts to vessel safety.

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