What Crew Members Say About Presque-Isle

On December 15, 2023, shortly after midday, the bulk carrier 'Presque Isle' successfully departed from the Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair facility located in Erie. Following a significant period of repairs, the vessel is now en route to Superior, Wisconsin, where it is scheduled to arrive by December 19. This return to service marks an important step in the resumption of its cargo operations.

The notable vessel, 'Presque Isle', is set to arrive at Donjon Shipbuilding & Repair located in Erie, Pennsylvania, for essential repair work following damage sustained during a grounding incident. This unfortunate event occurred on the morning of July 30 at Johnson Point, Neebish Island. As the timeline progresses, the vessel is currently making its way toward Toledo, with an estimated arrival time of August 5.

On July 30, 2025, at approximately 11 a.m., the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes initiated an investigation into the 'Presque Isle', a vessel that encountered maneuverability challenges while navigating upbound on the southeast side of Neebish Island. After covering several miles upbound and dropping anchor about seven miles downstream from the Soo Locks, the crew discovered that around 20 gallons of hydraulic oil may have unintentionally leaked from an onboard system. In a prompt response, spill booms were deployed around the stern of the vessel, and the crew efficiently removed all remaining oil from the affected system. Although some residual sheen was observed on the St. Marys River, authorities took swift action, resulting in the closure of the river to unbound traffic for safety and response measures. Following a thorough survey of the channel by the Army Corps of Engineers, the river was later reopened for navigation. Local and tribal partners were duly informed about the incident, with the sheen being attributed to residual oil from within the system. The Coast Guard's prompt investigation aims to ensure river safety and environmental protection.

The vessel known as PRESQUE ISLE, identified by IMO number 7303877, was successfully extricated from its predicament at 12:30 p.m. This timely resolution allows the ship to resume its operations and continue its journey.