(6 photos) Update on grounded tug in Lake Superior

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. COAST GUARD

************************* Update to Tug Seneca grounding

GRAND MARAIS, Mich – Coast Guard and environmental response contractors, working in concert with Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority have spent the last two days mitigating environmental concerns that may be associated with the Tug Seneca.

Marine Pollution Control (MPC) has been contracted by the U.S. Coast Guard to provide a pollution response to the grounding of the Tug Seneca.

The Coast Guard will maintain oversight of on-scene operations utilizing personnel from Coast Guard Sector Sault, the Atlantic Area Strike Team, Traverse City aircraft and the cutter Katmai Bay.

Pollution responders are coordinating efforts to expedite the safe removal of approximately 1,900 gallons of environmental hazards from the tug, including approximately 1,800 gallons of diesel fuel, 50 gallons of lube oil, 25 gallons of waste oil, and 30 gallons of paint.

As of 6 p.m. this evening more than 75 percent of the products have been successfully removed from the vessel and safely transferred to a near by barge.

Weather has been favorable thus far, and has allowed pollution responders the opportunity to mount an effective response in the containment and removal of any pollutants in this remote area of Lake Superior.

Responders will work until late tonight to remove as much product as possible, before commencing operations early tomorrow.

Monday's operations call for the removal of any remaining environmental hazards prior to the arrival of the next weather front which is forecast to arrive in the area Monday evening.

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