NEWS RELEASE
U.S. COAST GUARD
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10 p.m. update
The U.S. Coast Guard and the captain of the grounded Roger Blough laker have come to an agreement that it is safe to let the 24 crew members on board would stay there over night says Lt. Creighton Chong, the public affairs officer and chief, Waterways Management Division at Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie.
There is some flooding but it is under control, added Chong.
The Roger Blough is still at the same location on the reef in Whitefish Bay.
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Original story 7 p.m.
SAULT STE MARIE, Michigan — Coast Guard crews are responding to a grounded freighter in Whitefish Bay in Lake Superior Friday afternoon.
The motor vessel Roger Blough, an 858 ft U.S. Cargo vessel, has run aground in the vicinity of Gros Cap Reef in Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior with reports of flooding.
All crew members are reported safe with no injuries. Crew reports no sign of pollution in the water.
Multiple U.S. Coast Guard assets are on scene to ensure the safety of the crew and the environment and to assess the extent of damage.
More information will be released as it becomes available.
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Editor's note: The Roger Blough is a self discharging carrier built to ship taconite ore pellets. It was christened in June of 1972 and named in honor of a retired Chairman of the Board of the United States Steel Corporation. The Roger Blough was last located heading out of Duluth, MN at about noon on Thursday and was due to dock at Conneaut, OH at about 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 29.