The U.S. Coast Guard is working to clear the outbound shipping lane in the St. Marys River after efforts to refloat a grounded 1,000-foot coal freighter created blockage.
The Coast Guard said Thursday evening that crews are at work trying to remove a shoal that developed during the refloating of the ship, which became grounded about 3 a.m. Wednesday and was freed about 6:20 a.m. Thursday.
The Coast Guard says about 11 ships heading from lake Superior to Lake Huron have been delayed by the blockage.
The Paul R. Tregurtha is owned by Interlake Shipping Co. of Richfield, Ohio, and is carrying about 62,000 tons of coal.
There was no effect on ships heading toward Lake Superior.
