SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — A cargo ship in Lake Superior became slightly submerged Saturday and began taking on water, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Great Lakes Coast Guard Area received reports at about 6:53 a.m. that a 700-foot vessel called the Michipicoten had collided with something about 35 miles southwest of Isle Royale, which is part of the state of Michigan. The ship was carrying taconite, a low-quality iron ore, and had 22 people on board.
Water pumps on board began moving water, authorities said, and there were no signs that anything had spilled from the ship. By 9:15 a.m., water pumps had reduced the freighter’s list from 15 degrees to 5 degrees, the Coast Guard said.
Helicopter and boat crews responded, the Coast Guard said.
The collision occurred in the northwestern part of the lake, which straddles the U.S.-Canadian border and is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area.