Lightering operations on Roger Blough, a bulk carrier that ran aground on May 27 on Gros Cap Reef in Whitefish Bay in Lake Superior, have been completed, the US Coast Guard said.
The cargo on board the 1972-built ship was offloaded onto two vessels, the Philip R. Clarke and Arthur M. Anderson. Each of the receiving vessels departed the Waiska Bay anchorage to deliver the iron ore to its intended destination.
“A detailed damage assessment of the Blough will be conducted once favorable weather conditions are met,” the coast guard said.
After the assessment, it would be possible to determine the extent of repairs and mode of transit to its final destination.
Since the 46,833 dwt bulk carrier grounded ‘with reports of flooding’ , the coast guard previously conducted exterior draft readings on the tanker, while the vessel’s crew conducted interior soundings of the tanks to ensure flooding remains under control.
Roger Blough was refloated on June 4, once the crews wrapped up initial lightering operations. The ship made way to Waiska Bay anchorage under its own power after being stuck in Lake Superior for over a week.
The Waiska Bay anchorage area remains closed to all vessels not part of the operation, the coast guard added.