DETROIT, Mich. (WJRT) - The newest freighter on the Great Lakes was stuck on Belle Isle in the Detroit River before a commercial salvage vessel pulled it free.
The U.S. Coast Guard says the 639-foot freighter Mark W. Barker ran aground around 8 a.m. Wednesday in the Detroit River on the south side of Belle Isle.Â
The Coast Guard says an electronic malfunction caused the Baker to lose propulsion and stray into shallow water along Belle Isle. The salvage vessel pulled the Barker free around 12:10 p.m.
The towing vessel helped move the ship to the Belle Isle anchorage. The Coast Guard planned to board the ship later Wednesday to assess whether there was any damage.
"We worked closely with all relevant parties to ensure the safety of our waterways and the prompt resolution of this incident," said Adeeb Ahmad, Coast Guard Sector Detroit's public affairs officer.
Authorities say nobody aboard the ship was injured. There was no evidence of pollution coming from it.
The Mark W. Barker, which launched last summer, was carrying 21,000 metric tons of salt and 105,000 gallons of diesel fuel. The Detroit River remained open to maritime traffic during the incident.Â
