- 1000-Foot Ship Avoids Collision on St. Clair River.
- American Spirit’s Close Call Under U.S.–Canada Bridge.
- Great Lakes Freighter Nearly Hits Shoreline Beneath Bridge.
On May 27, 2025, a potential maritime disaster was narrowly averted when a massive 1000-foot freighter from the Great Lakes came alarmingly close to crashing into a seawall under the Blue Water Bridge, which links Port Huron, Michigan, to Sarnia, Ontario, reports Marine Insight.
Incident Details
The ship in question, the M/V American Spirit, veered toward the western shore of the St. Clair River around 1:45 p.m., dangerously close to the Michigan side near the bridge’s base. Footage shared online captures the freighter as it neared the seawall, only to correct its path just in time to avoid a collision.
Investigation Underway
Lt. Phillip Gurtler from the U.S. Coast Guard Ninth District confirmed that officials are aware of the incident and are actively investigating what caused the vessel to veer off course.
The American Spirit is a U.S.-flagged, self-loading bulk carrier operated by the American Steamship Company, a subsidiary of Rand Logistics.
Structural Risk Assessment
Jocelyn Garza, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Transportation, stated that while the incident was indeed a close call, the Blue Water Bridge was never in immediate jeopardy. She elaborated that:
- The bridge has no piers in the water.
- There’s plenty of clearance between the freighter and the bridge structure.
- Even if the freighter had hit the seawall, it’s unlikely the bridge would have suffered significant damage.
Ongoing Inquiry
Authorities are continuing to analyse navigational data and other relevant details to understand why the freighter came so close to the shoreline. Thankfully, no injuries or structural damage have been reported.
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Source: Marine Insight
