Calumet Refloated, Traffic Back to Normal in Soo Locks

The cargo vessel Calumet, a 629-foot ship that ran aground on the north side of Sugar Island Wednesday, was refloated Friday, at approximately 8:50 PM local time, after the United States Coast Guard approved a salvage plan submitted by Grand River Navigation, the vessel’s owner.

The St. Marys River, which had been closed to commercial vessel traffic from the Soo Locks to Six Mile Point following the grounding, was reopened at 9:30 p.m. Friday after the Army Corp of Engineers surveyed the bottom of the river in the vicinity of the grounding and found that no debris was obstructing the channel.

After the Calumet was refloated by offloading ballast water, it then sailed under its own power to anchorage near Lake Nickolet where it underwent an exterior and interior examination. No warping, indentations, or other damage to the hull was found, the USCG said.

In addition, a subsequent investigation of the site found no signs of pollution, and no impact to the environment.

There were seven vessels waiting to transit upbound and downbound on the river. Delays to commercial traffic on the St. Marys River were expected to cease Sunday.

The cause of the grounding is said to be under investigation.