American Spirit problem

[hausen]

...amazingly strong current running into the harbor - I would guess it at at least 8 miles per hour - faster than most people can run. Looked like a boiling rapids where the channel opened up into the harbor. And watched a very suprised comorrant take the whitewater ride of his life. :) But shortly after the American Spirit went aground and the bridge came back down, the current was running about as fast in the other direction. Wasn't really a wind before the storm, not really sure what was screwing with the currents today, but it was odd.

Wondering if this wasn't a minor seiche running into and back out of the harbor.

[Guest]

Sorry, you are right garbear. I had my "Americans" mixed up, it was the American Integrity that was making its way under the bridge.

[garbear]

As 940 EST 06-18-18, the American Spirit appears to have been freed according to AIS as it is moving in Duluth/Superior harbor it is about to pass beneath the Blatnik Bridge. Must be going to a dock for inspection. I don't know if Fraser can handle a ship that size. Where it grounded is mostly mud, I believe, so there should not be any significant damage.

Looking at AIS after the American Spirit was freed she went directly to the Port Terminal, not under the Blatnik Bridge.

[Guest]

As 940 EST 06-18-18, the American Spirit appears to have been freed according to AIS as it is moving in Duluth/Superior harbor it is about to pass beneath the Blatnik Bridge. Must be going to a dock for inspection. I don't know if Fraser can handle a ship that size. Where it grounded is mostly mud, I believe, so there should not be any significant damage.

[Ray]

We were out there on the breakwater just before the storm hit - amazingly strong current running into the harbor - I would guess it at at least 8 miles per hour - faster than most people can run. Looked like a boiling rapids where the channel opened up into the harbor. And watched a very suprised comorrant take the whitewater ride of his life. :) But shortly after the American Spirit went aground and the bridge came back down, the current was running about as fast in the other direction. Wasn't really a wind before the storm, not really sure what was screwing with the currents today, but it was odd.

But listening to radio conversation inside the museum, it sounded like the American Spirit got a wild ride from the inbound current. Not sure that they initially knew they were aground, as the initial conversation with the bridge was to back up and try lining up again. My wife was out in the car parked in the lot by the back of the Pallucci building and had a front row seat the the grounding. Unfortunately I had the camera with me in the museum at the time.

[Brett mn]

Last Week the Presque Isle struggled to make it out!,this Morning the Tugs pulling The American Victory had a hard time keeping it straight while leaving the Channel,The Spirit is sitting with the Coast Guard so they must have touched bottom,they dropped the anchor to help stop it so it didn't hit the wall,its still there and the American Integrity is anchored outside the The entrance,I think there's a very strong current,that is causing all the problems!,it seems strange the river should flow out of the channel,so the Boats should flow with the rush!,but they are being pushed hard to the left,and being pushed away from the exit,the same each time!,like the current is running hard cross ways from the entrance to the North,and pushing them away from the Exit of the Channel?

[Judie]

Yes, 15ft from wall. Dropped anchor, also grounded. No damage

[Darryl]

She stopped about 25 feet from the wall. Later, another ASC footer was coming in but made an abrupt turn to port, maybe because the bridge wasn't up.

[JohnH]

Here is a pix about 5:15 PM. Looks like he missed the wall by about 30 feet. I would guess that he will sit until the CG does some inspection for possible damage or fuel leakage. Besides full reverse, he had his stern anchor out when he tried to stop.

[ZenithBoatWatcher]

Do you know if they were able to stop before the wall?

Yes, she did not hit the wall, she is currently grounded from what I hear.

[garbear]

Do you know if they were able to stop before the wall?

Read on one of the Facebook pages I'm on they missed the wall by 20 ft.

[Pat]

They stopped short by about 35 feet. Aground now on the mucky bottom.

[Randy S]

I've been watching and have not noticed any assist vessels responding. Perhaps she was hit by lightning and lost some electronic control?

[ckoster]

Do you know if they were able to stop before the wall?

[JohnH]

She went way off course heading out the Duluth Entry Sunday afternoon, likely due to heavy thunderstorm winds. Check duluthharborcam.com for updates.