A closed section of the lower St. Mary's River re-opened to marine traffic at 12:39 p.m. today after the M.V. Algowood was moved to the Carbide Dock in Soo, Michigan.
The Algowood, which grounded yesterday about one mile from the Soo locks, lifted anchor at 8:19 this morning and arrived at the former Union Carbide dock at 9:54 a.m.
She was accompanied by the U.S. commercial tugs Missouri and Florida.
Harbour checked for obstructions
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers survey vessels Nicolet and James Bray swept the harbour to make sure it was free of obstructions.
To see a photograph of the Nicolet checking the bottom near the docked Algowood this afternoon, click here.
The first vessel to proceed downbound after the channel was cleared was the Canadian Olympic, which had docked at the far end of the lock.
She was followed by the Algomarine, which was the first ship through the locks this morning.
The first upbound vessel through the locks was the George A. Stinson, followed by the Burns Harbor.
19 backed-up ships
Shortly after 2 p.m. this afternoon, four other vessels were waiting to go downbound and 15 were waiting to go upbound. Another 13 upbound ships were moored below the Mud Lake Junction buoy, about 20 miles away.
To see a photograph of the Lee A. Tregurtha and Canadian Leader waiting this afternoon at the locks, click here.
Transit plan due Wednesday morning
Cause of Monday's grounding is still unknown. The accident is being investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard's marine safety division.
The website Boatnerd.com reported Tuesday night that an initial inspection of the Algowood uncovered multiple holes in her No. 1 ballast tank, as well as other scrapes and dents on the port side. No leaking was reported in the cargo hold, Boatnerd said.
The website said that the Algowood's owner, Algoma Central Marine, expects to present the U.S Coast Guard with a transit plan Wednesday morning.
"The vessel may sail with temporary repairs or it may be necessary to offload the cargo of coal to another vessel and immediately sail for a dry dock," Boatnerd said.
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