Mackinaw

The Coast Guard has contained all spilled diesel fuel from the discharge that occurred while the "Mackinaw" was taking on fuel in the vicinity of the Ambassador Bridge in the Detroit River on Feb 4. The deployed sorbent boom recovered all but a residual amount of diesel before the boom became frozen in the ice. Coast Guard Sector Detroit and Marine Pollution Control contracted personnel were continuing to monitor the situation and plan to recover the boom, along with the residual fuel that remained in the ice, as soon as weather permitted and it was safe to do so. The cause of the discharge remained under investigation.

The Coast Guard reported a diesel fuel discharge in the afternoon of Feb 4, 2014, from the "Mackinaw" while the ship was taking on fuel in the Detroit River in the vicinity of the Ambassador Bridge. The crew immediately secured the source of fuel and conducted initial clean-up operations onboard. Crewmembers also deployed boom around the fuel to prevent further spread. Coast Guard Sector Detroit pollution responders which were on scene estimated that 200-300 gallons had entered the water. The Coast Guard has contracted an oil spill removal organization to complete the clean up and has ordered various equipment, to include a vacuum truck and additional boom. The cause of the discharge was under investigation. The "Mackinaw" was cleared to depart the location of the incident due to a necessary ice-breaking operation.

The "Mackinaw"’s long awaited trip for repairs to a leaking bow-thruster will finally take place in about a week, the ship’s captain confirmed on Nov 25, 2011. The icebreaking buoy tender is at last scheduled for dry-dock at the Fraser Shipyards of Superior, Wisonsin. The "Macinaw" last visited Fraser in June 2009 when a leaking shaft seal in the starboard engine pod was repaired there.