A slew of U.S. Coast Guard personnel responded Monday morning to the Port of Milwaukee, after reports that the towing vessel named ‘Michigan’ was sinking on the Kinnickinnic River.
Coast Guard pollution responders along with partners from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Milwaukee Harbor Patrol, the Port of Milwaukee and representatives of 'Michigan' are on-scene for the ongoing incident.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan say they were notified around 11:27am that the vessel was taking on water at its moorings and partially sank in 26 feet of water.
The Michigan, a 112’ tug and barge, had a maximum potential of 40,000 gallons of oil and fuel onboard, but in a release on Monday, Coast Guard pollution responders said the vessel is not actively polluting. 100 feet of hard boom with absorbent material have been deployed as a preventative measure.
“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.
U.S. Venture which owns the Michigan has activated its vessel response plan and contracted a marine salvage organization to respond to the sunken vessel.
