Freighter runs aground at Belle Isle

Bulk carrier Mark W. Barker runs aground at Belle Isle

The U.S. Coast Guard of the Great Lakes said it "ran soft aground" around 8 a.m. Wednesday morning. There were no injuries, pollution, or damage reported.

DETROIT (FOX 2) - The U.S. Coast Guard freed a large vessel that ran aground at Belle Isle Wednesday morning after it drifted to close too the shore.

Footage of the bulk carrier showed the front end of the hull only feet away from the Belle Isle shoreline on the Canadian side. The words written on the front end showed the name M/V Mark W. Baker.

Officials said it "ran soft aground" around 8 a.m. Wednesday morning. There were no injuries, pollution, or damage reported.

The coast guard plans to anchor the freighter before assessing any damages and making sure repairs are made.

The cargo aboard the freighter is salt. The river remains open to other boating traffic.

According to the website Boatnerd.com, which tracks boating traffic in the Great Lakes, the freighter's destination was Milwaukee.

The Mark W. Barker is part of a fleet owned by The Interlake Steamship Company, according to its website.

It's unclear how the vessel got stuck. It happened shortly before 8 a.m. on May 17.

The M/V Mark W. Barker is part of a fleet owned by The Interlake Steamship Company, according to its website. Launching onto the Great Lakes in 2022, it is the company's newest bulk carrier "designed for maximum cubic space and the ability to handle difficult cargoes."

The website also cites the vessel's square shape on the bottom of its hull, which is different from the traditional V-shaped angle that previous freighters are built with.