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Canadian freighter refloated after running aground in Detroit River on Thanksgiving morning

Freighter runs aground near William Milliken State Park

DETROIT – The Canadian-flagged 629-foot self-discharging bulk carrier carrying 18,000 tons of stone that ran aground in the Detroit River near William Milliken State Park in Michigan has refloated.

The United States Coast Guard Sector Detroit received the initial report at 1:17 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 27.

The vessel, named Robert S. Pierson, reportedly became grounded at 10:35 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26.

The freighter was en route from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, to Lorain, Ohio, when the incident occurred.

Coast Guard tugboats Minnesota and Ontario were on scene to assist with the situation.

There have been no reports of injuries, pollution, or impact to vessel traffic as a result of the grounding.

The Coast Guard Salvage Engineering Response Team was notified and approved the refloat plan.

As of noon Thursday, the vessel has been successfully refloated and is transiting again.

Local 4’s Windsor camera captured images of the freighter stuck near William Milliken State Park on Thanksgiving morning.


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