Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for American-Spirit

In response to challenging icy conditions, the US Coast Guard has mobilized two icebreakers in recent days to ensure the smooth transit of vessels navigating the Great Lakes. On January 21, 2026, the self-discharging bulk carrier 'American Spirit' called for assistance while sailing on Lake Erie. Although the ship was not trapped, it struggled to make progress through the icy waters. The Coast Guard Cutter 'Neah Bay' was dispatched promptly to aid the 'American Spirit,' breaking through the ice so the vessel could continue its journey. By midday, the 'American Spirit' was successfully back underway and received escort services all the way to Toledo, where it is scheduled for its winter layup. Earlier on January 15, the 'Neah Bay' had already demonstrated its icebreaking capabilities by helping the vessel 'Lee A. Tregurtha.' The cutter expertly navigated the ship through six to eight inches of brash ice in the St. Marys River, allowing it to reach the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, just in time before the locks closed for the winter navigation season. On the same day as the 'American Spirit' incident, the Coast Guard Cutter 'Mackinaw' was also deployed on Lake Huron to assist the ship 'Wilfred Sykes,' which was caught in ice. The cutter successfully freed the vessel, escorting it through the Straits of Mackinac. For further details, check the full report with accompanying photos and videos at Maritime Executive.

On February 5, 2019, the vessel 'American Spirit' experienced a significant horn malfunction while docked in Superior, Wisconsin. The continuous blaring of the horn persisted for an entire hour, reportedly causing concern among local residents and prompting a response from the Superior Police Department. The malfunction was finally rectified at 8:35 p.m., bringing relief to those nearby who had been disturbed by the unexpected noise.

On June 17, 2018, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the freighter 'American Spirit' faced a challenging situation when it ran aground in Duluth Harbor, Minnesota. This incident prompted the U.S. Coast Guard to implement a 500-yard safety perimeter around the vessel, which obstructed navigation under the Aerial Lift Bridge and affected the Duluth Ship Channel. The 'American Spirit,' loaded with taconite, encountered difficulties while maneuvering out of the harbor, becoming stranded just short of the breakwall. It was observed positioned skewed in the harbor, with the stern near the Great Lakes Aquarium and the bow angled towards the Canal Park seawall adjacent to the Paulucci Building. Fortunately, the rising water levels in the harbor allowed the ship to float free around 10 p.m. that same evening. After regaining stability, the vessel, with assistance from tugs, made its way to the Husky Fuel dock for a thorough inspection of both its interior and exterior. Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Safety Unit Duluth proactively assessed the area for any potential pollution threats and continued to investigate the cause of the grounding incident. For further details, including photos and videos, refer to these sources: http://duluthshippingnews.com/2018/06/17/american-spirit-in-distress/ https://www.inforum.com/news/accidents/4461641-rising-water-helps-free-ship-duluth-harbor https://www.perfectduluthday.com/2018/06/17/freighter-american-spirit-runs-aground-near-aerial-lift-bridge/ https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2018/06/17/duluth-ship-ground-break-wall-narrow-miss/ https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/4461714-grounded-ship-freed-duluth-harbor http://lakesuperior.news/Shipping-News/990-foot-American-Spirit-Aground-Duluth

In a significant maritime development, the freighter 'American Spirit' was successfully refloated on September 5, 2014, after a collaborative effort involving the U.S. Coast Guard's Sault Ste. Marie marine inspectors and the American Steamship Company. The approved salvage operation included the lightering of 5,700 tons of taconite, which was transferred from the bulk carrier to the freighter 'Sam Laud'. Following its refloating, the 'American Spirit' anchored in St. Ignace, Michigan, where it underwent thorough inspections by Coast Guard officials and surveyors from the American Bureau of Shipping. Remarkably, during the vessel's grounding and subsequent refloating, there were no incidents of pollution or flooding reported. After fulfilling the necessary safety checks, the Coast Guard granted clearance for the 'American Spirit' to continue its voyage. The ship successfully berthed at Indiana Harbor in Chicago on September 7, marking the end of a challenging incident while paving the way for continued maritime operations. For further details and photos, visit: http://abc10up.com/freighter-unstuck-after-running-aground-near-mackinac-island/