Lightering operations began on Friday on the grounded freighter Roger Blough, which ran aground on Gros Cap Reef in Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior on Friday May 27.
The US Coast Guard (USCG) said the receiving vessel Philip R. Clarke began removing some of the cargo of iron ore pellets that the Roger Blough had been transporting on its route from the Twin Ports (of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin) to Conneaut, Ohio when the grounding occurred.
The 858-foot vessel, owned by Canadian National Railway’s Duluth-based Great Lakes Fleet, experienced minor flooding in some ballast tanks but there was no pollution and no injuries to the crew.
When lightering is complete the vessel will be refloated. The operation is a team effort of USCG, Canadian partners, salvage specialists and company representatives.
“Roger Bligh”?