The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(CLEVELAND) — The U.S. Coast Guard is assisting Thursday morning with the response to the freight ship Buffalo that ran aground Wednesday night on the Canadian side of southern Lake Huron, one mile off shore from Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.
The freight ship Buffalo is carrying iron ore pellets, and there have been no reports of injuries, pollution or flooding.
Coast Guard Sector Detroit received a report from the freight ship captain at 10 p.m. stating the vessel ran aground while transiting south to Cleveland.
A rescue boatcrew from Station Port Huron, Mich., launched aboard a 41-foot Utility Boat.
Sector Detroit began broadcasting a safety marine information broadcast over VHF-FM marine radio, alerting mariners to the hazard, and will continue to do so until the vessel is moved.
The Coast Guard advised the freight ship not to maneuver due to a 10- to 15-foot lift on the port side of the vessel.
A refloat plan must be approved through Transport Canada and the Coast Guard before attempts are made to move the vessel.
Shipping lanes have not been disrupted.
The cause of the grounding is under investigation, and inspectors from the Coast Guard and Transport Canada are working with the captain of the freight ship to establish a refloat plan.
There is no Coast Guard imagery associated with this case.
