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Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher M. Yaw / U.S. Coast Guard
Roger Blough Aground
Two freighters transit upbound the Soo Locks past the safety zone established by the U.S. Coast Guard around the Roger Blough near Gros Reefs Light.
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Lt. j.g. Samantha Coonan / U.S. Coast Guard
Roger Blough Aground
The Roger Blough, stuck on Gros Cap Reef in Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior, on May 28, 2016.
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Lt. j.g. Samantha Coonan / U.S. Coast Guard
Roger Blough Aground
The Roger Blough on May 28, 2016, aground in Whitefish Bay.
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Lt. Cmdr. Merridith Morrison / U.S. Coast Guard
Roger Blough Aground
The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Bay enforces a 500-yard safety zone alongside the Roger Blough on May 29, 2016, near Gros Cap Reef in Whitefish Bay in Lake Superior.
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Courtesy Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Bay
Roger Blough Aground
The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Bay enforces a 500-yard safety zone alongside the motor vessel Roger Blough on May 29, 2016, near the Gros Cap Reefs Light in Whitefish Bay in Lake Superior.
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Courtesy Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Bay
Roger Blough Aground
The Roger Blough sits grounded in Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior, on May 29, 2016, as seen from the deck of Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Bay.
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Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Yaw / U.S. Coast Guard
Roger Blough Aground
The Edgar B. Speer passes the safety zone around the Roger Blough and responders on May 30, 2016.
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Lt. Cmdr. Merridith Morrison / U.S. Coast Guard
Roger Blough Aground
On May 30, responders placed protective boom around the stern of the Roger Blough, which ran aground on May 27 on Gros Cap Reef in Lake Superior. Responders deployed the boom as a preventative measure around the location of the Blough's fuel tanks.
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Lt. Creighton Chong / U.S. Coast Guard
Roger Blough Aground
Lt. Gordon Gertiser, a marine inspector with U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie, inspects the engine room for possible damage aboard the Roger Blough on May 30, 2016.
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Craig Groman / U.S. Coast Guard
Roger Blough Aground
Coast Guard crewmembers continue their inspections aboard the Roger Blough on May 31, 2016. Coast Guard inspectors were aboard the Blough to investigate the cause of the grounding and monitor the salvage operation.
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Craig Groman / U.S. Coast Guard
Roger Blough Aground
Coast Guard crewmembers watch as salvage divers from DonJon-Smit prepare to enter the water to conduct a hull survey on May 31, 2016.
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Courtesy Transport Canada
Roger Blough Aground
The Philip R. Clarke arrives on scene with the Roger Blough on June 2, 2016. The Clarke is scheduled to remove some of the taconite from the Blough in order to lighten the Blough so it can be refloated.
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Craig Gorman / U.S. Coast Guard
Roger Blough Aground
The Philip R. Clarke moves into position to remove some of the taconite from the Blough on June 3, 2016. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Buckthorn is on scene to enforce the 750-yard safety zone around the ships.
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Craig Gorman / U.S. Coast Guard
Roger Blough Aground
The Philip R. Clarke receives taconite by conveyor belt from the Roger Blough.
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Petty Officer 2nd Class Kyle Schmidt / U.S. Coast Guard
Roger Blough Aground
The Philip R. Clarke receives taconite by conveyor belt from the Roger Blough on June 3, 2016.
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Courtesy Transport Canada
Roger Blough Aground
The Philip R. Clarke arrives on the scene with the Roger Blough on June 2, 2016.
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Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Tig Hogan / U.S. Coast Guard
Roger Blough Aground
Taconite falls into the Philip R. Clarke off the conveyor belt from the Roger Blough on June 3, 2016.
Freighter Roger Blough aground on reef near Sault Ste. Marie
The Roger Blough, an 858-foot laker that frequently visits Two Harbors and Duluth, remains stuck on Gros Cap Reef after running aground last Friday in Whitefish Bay near the eastern tip of Lake Superior. At the time of publication, efforts to lighten its load and free it from the reef were already underway.
The crew is safe and uninjured, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, and flooding in the ballast water tanks has stabilized. As a precaution, the Coast Guard brought in a 6,000-foot pollution-containment boom with which to circle the freighter. No pollutants appear to have entered the Lake; the fuel tanks, carrying some 133,000 gallons of marine diesel, are undamaged.
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, whose main water intake is 1.2 miles away, is monitoring the situation closely and has a plan in place should a spill occur, reports SooToday.
On Wednesday, divers completed their underwater survey of the ship’s hull. Great Lakes Fleet, which owns the vessel, was already at work on a plan to free the Blough: a lightering operation to move cargo from the Blough to the Philip R. Clarke, another Fleet vessel. It began today. The Arthur M. Anderson is due to arrive over the weekend to take on the remaining taconite. Once relieved of its cargo and freed from the reef, the Blough will head into drydock in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, for repairs.
As for how the Blough ran aground, the incident remains under investigation. Fleet officials declined to comment. On its way from Duluth to Conneaut, Ohio, with a load of taconite pellets, the Blough may have hit the reef while attempting to pass a stopped freighter in foggy weather, according to early reports in the Duluth News Tribune.
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City of Sault Ste. Marie
Yellow Fish Road
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City of Sault Ste. Marie
Yellow Fish Road
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City of Sault Ste. Marie
Yellow Fish Road
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City of Sault Ste. Marie
Yellow Fish Road
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City of Sault Ste. Marie
Yellow Fish Road
Follow the Yellow Fish Road
On Tuesday, June 7, volunteers with from three Girl Guides and two Girl Guides Pathfinder groups will take to the streets of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, to paint yellow fish near city storm drains, part of the national Yellow Fish Road program.
Yellow Fish Road, a storm-water pollution prevention program, helps to remind residents that whatever goes into the storm-water drains ends up Lake Superior, affecting fish and other wildlife. The city of Sault Ste. Marie and Trout Unlimited Canada support the program. Close to 60 girls and leaders are expected to participate, painting the fish with the words “Rainwater Only” and distributing fish-shaped educational brochures. The event will focus on streets near the St. Theresa Catholic School neighborhood from 6 to 8 p.m.
Superior Tanks of Thanks
We’ve gotten word from Cenex that two more Lake Superior neighborhood folk have received $50 “Tanks of Thanks” cards after being nominated for special recognition. Darren Gordon and William Parker, both of Superior, received the cards for free gas. For years, Darren has helped neighbors with home tasks and also donates his labor and expertise to repair and paint sports facilities at the local high school and college. William was recognized for his dedication to his wife during her battle through cancer and on-going remission.
Cenex gives away 100 of the $50 gift cards each month in random drawings. Since the program started in 2012, in Minnesota 1,146 people have received cards, in Michigan 16 and in Wisconsin 814. To nominated a worthy friend or family member, go to TanksofThanks.com. Lake Superior communities were featured when Cenex created ads promoting the giveaway in 2013. Check out Captain Jim Melin in his Sea Bird tugboat in Ashland, Wisconsin, and see what other towns you spot.
Duluth Transit Authority
Trolley
Trolley revs up for summer: The Port Town Trolley begins its summer run in Duluth starting Sunday (June 5) with a 30-minute route circulating between downtown, Canal Park and Bayfront Park. The perky looking trolley, operated by the Duluth Transit Authority, runs 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Labor Day, providing a convenient way to get around without trying to find parking. The fare is 50 cents and free for children younger than 4. Unlimited-ride DTA day passes can be purchased for $4 and covers any of the buses traveling around the city routes, including into Superior.
Marquette Blueberry Festival
Blueberry Festival poster
Allison Kublin's winning design for this year's Marquette Blueberry Festival poster.
Berry nice work: A freshman at Northern Michigan University won the Marquette Blueberry Festival poster contest this year. Allison Kublin, who completed her first year of studies with a concentration on Human Centered Design, wove scenes of Marquette into the poster, which will be used to promote the 15th anniversary of the event, July 29 this year in Downtown Marquette.
Runners start Circle Tour on foot... Pushing their gear in a converted stroller, a trio of Northland College graduates began an ultrarun around Lake Superior in late May. Here’s their first update after a week on the run.
... while a Duluthian plans to run the entire Superior Hiking Trail: Shawna Weaver is raising money for her “310 Miles” film project. The mission: “To run the trail to get an intimate understanding of our community, to connect with community members, and to produce a film to share my experience with the region and beyond.”
Lake State lab celebrates 30 years of salmon stocking: Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, has released an average of 31,000 Atlantic salmon in the St. Marys River each year, raised by students.