MICHIPICOTEN

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Cargo ship caused oil spill in Thunder Bay

Port officials in Thunder Bay have almost finished cleaning up nearly 200 litres of oil that spilled into the Great Lakes in the evening of Aug 30, 2015, after the "Michipicoten" unintentionally released the fuel oil into Lake Superior. The vessel left the port again on Sep 3 at 11 a.m. The Canadian Coast Guard had laid out floating barriers werewhich effective in containing the wasted fuel. The process of cleaning up was also aided with the help of unique sponges that were able to absorb oil. Provincial officials have been tasked with disposing of the spilled oil.

Bulkcarrier assisted distressed yacht

The "Michipicoten" provided a lee for a distressed sailboat in adverse weather on Aug 26, 2015, 18 miles east of Alpena, Michigan in Lake Huron. The area was under a small-craft advisory with reported on-scene conditions of 20-25 knots and waves 6-7 feet, and the U.S. Coast Guard, the Alpena Sheriff's Department and several good Samaritans were assisting two men aboard the 42-foot sailboat that began taking on water. Shortly after 9 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, received a call from the sailboat 18 nautical miles east of Alpena in Lake Huron. The men stated they were currently using a hand pump to dewater the vessel. Sector Sault dispatched a crew from the Coast Guard Station Alpena aboard a 25-foot response boat, a crew from Coast Guard Station St. Ignace, Michigan, aboard a 45-foot response boat and a crew from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, Michigan, aboard a Dolphin helicopter. They also issued an urgent marine information broadcast advising mariners in the area of the situation. The "Michipicoten" and a 45-foot pleasure craft responded to the broadcast along with the Alpena Sheriff's Department. Just after 11 a.m., the Traverse City aircrew arrived on scene and lowered a rescue swimmer and a dewatering pump to the vessel. After arriving aboard, the swimmer was made aware that one of the men had a history of heart problems and was beginning to experience chest pains. Not long after, the man started to lose consciousness. The crew medically evacuated the man to Alpena Regional Medical Center. His condition is currently unknown. The crew aboard the 25-foot response boat arrived just before 11:30 a.m, and began to assist with the dewatering process. Just after noon, the crew aboard the 45-foot response boat arrived on scene, placed the sailboat in tow and are currently en route to Thunder Bay Harbor in Alpena. Report with photos: http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2588854/