The U.S. Coast Guard has been working with partners to refloat a towing vessel in the Kinnickinnic River in the Port of Milwaukee.
The towing vessel Michigan, part of an articulated tug barge (ATB) along with the barge Great Lakes, partially sank in 26 feet of water on Monday after taking on water at its moorings. The Michigan has a maximum potential of 40,000 gallons of oil and fuel onboard.
Coast Guard pollution responders previously confirmed that the vessel was not actively polluting and 100 feet of hard boom with absorbent material had been deployed as a preventative measure.
The Coast Guard worked with the vessel’s owner, U.S. Venture, and a salvage company this week to refloat the vessel and limit potential impacts from the incident.
“At this point in time, the Coast Guard’s focus is the marine environmental protection and the potential waterway impacts,” said Capt. Seth Parker, Commander of Sector Lake Michigan.
