Ship sinks at Duluth pier
The hull of a 1,000-foot dry bulk ship was breached Monday while docking in Duluth, Minn., for the winter and has partially sunk.
The U.S. Coast Guard said the after section of the ship, the Walter J. McCarthy Jr. sank to about 20 feet at the dock, while the rest of the ship remained above water. The ship has been made fast to the pier until a salvage plan is in place.
The Coast Guard said the laker, which is owned by the American Steamship Co. subsidiary of GATX, was docking into a slip when it struck and object and began taking on water in the engine room.
There are no reports of injuries or of oil in the water, and the Coast Guard said it is working with the owner, the city of Duluth and both the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin to protect the environment.
Reports are that crews are scrambling to get water out of the ship before it freezes in sub-zero temperatures.
The ship was putting to dock for the winter when the accident happened. The Lake Superior shipping season came to an official end Tuesday with the closing of the locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.