The Sam-Laud: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

On October 1, 2023, emergency responders executed a medevac operation for an injured individual aboard the cargo vessel 'Sam Laud', which was moored at Lake Michigan in Waukegan. The incident unfolded around 3:45 p.m. at the National Gypsum Company's dock located on East Sea Horse Drive. The victim reportedly fell through a hatch and found himself in a hard-to-reach area on a conveyor belt, prompting a swift response from the Waukegan Fire Department. Personnel from Fire Stations One and Four quickly arrived at the scene. Utilizing their ladder truck, firefighters elevated the bucket to access the second deck of the ship. They carefully secured the victim, who was fully immobilized and placed into a stokes basket before being lowered safely to the ground. Once transferred onto a stretcher, the injured man was promptly loaded into an ambulance for transport to the hospital. Fortunately, the injuries sustained were deemed non-life-threatening. For more details, visit: https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2023/10/08/firefighters-rescue-injured-person-from-cargo-ship-docked-on-lake-michigan-in-waukegan/

On April 10, 2012, the U.S. Coast Guard executed a critical rescue operation, airlifting an ill crewmember from the freighter 'Sam Laud' as it navigated the waters of Lake Superior. The emergency unfolded around noon when officials in Canada alerted the Coast Guard station in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, about the situation involving the sailor near Isle Royale. Given the circumstances, it was clear that a U.S. Coast Guard team was the best option for a timely response. Following an assessment by medical personnel who deemed the situation urgent, a rescue aircrew from Traverse City, Michigan, deployed aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter. They arrived at the freighter, situated roughly 12 miles south of Isle Royale and approximately 30 miles from the Keweenaw Peninsula, by 3:30 p.m. The Coast Guard successfully airlifted the affected crewmember, who was subsequently handed over to emergency responders at the scene. He was transported to Portage Health hospital in Hancock, Michigan, for further medical care. At the time of the incident, the 'Sam Laud' was heading for Silver Bay to load iron ore pellets and was scheduled to depart on the morning of April 11.