Freighter hung up in Muskegon

[Redeye]

Check out the freighter that is grounded at the arms in muskegon this evening!! Oops:confused:!! Go on the 4 hour animation link #1 web cam out of Muskegon.

[Tad Pole]

how do you get the animated cams?

[Redeye]

On the menue click on Data then Real Time data then Meteorological Data and it will show the state of Michigan. Click on Muskegon and scroll down and you can get 4 hour or 24 hour images from all web cams.

[GLF]

how do you get the animated cams?

http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/metdata/mkg/

[GLF]

Looks like another one got stuck on Monday.

Coal carrier backs off, forced to lighten load

The Great Lakes super-freighter American Integrity became temporarily stuck at the mouth of Muskegon's outer harbor Monday afternoon, the second big ship to run aground here in the past month.

The 1,000-foot freighter was carrying coal to Consumers Energy's B.C. Cobb electrical generating plant. The Indiana Harbor, also carrying coal, ran aground in roughly the same spot three weeks ago.

American Integrity ran aground at about 5 p.m. and freed itself about an hour later. It backed away from the harbor mouth and moved offshore; it was reported to have offloaded 7,200 tons of coal to the freighter Wilfred Sykes.

The Sykes was expected to deliver that coal to the Cobb plan at 10:30 this morning, followed by American Integrity with its lightened load of 54,800 tons at noon.

The Sykes was in the vicinity because of a shipment of asphalt sand it was carrying to the Verplank Dock, also at the east end of Muskegon Lake.

Consumers Energy spokesman Dennis McKee said the Cobb facility had a 170-day inventory of coal on hand, but is continuing to stockpile coal for the winter months.

"One ship being delayed doesn't really affect our operations whatsoever," he said this morning.

American Integrity became stuck just before the 5 p.m. passage of the Lake Express car ferry. The ferry was able to slip past the freighter and continue on its run to Milwaukee.

The Indiana Harbor ran aground outside Muskegon's outer pierheads Aug. 22. It was stuck for about four hours before the captain was able to wiggle and rock it free.

A U.S. Coast Guard marine science technician said wind and currents caused the Indiana Harbor to run aground on the sandy bottom. Shipping officials also pointed to the need for additional dredging in Great Lakes ports because of low water levels.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers put out an advisory to mariners shortly before the Indiana Harbor ran aground, warning of shoaling -- a buildup of sand and silt -- that had taken place around the Muskegon harbor entrance.

That shoaling has apparently been made worse by high winds and heavy seas in recent days.

According to the Corps of Engineers, Muskegon's harbor is next due for dredging in 2008.

Low water levels have affected harbors around the Great Lakes, according to the Lake Carriers' Association. That and lack of adequate dredging are among the largest issues facing shippers today, forcing them to lighten loads and increase costs, according to Glen Nekvasil, vice president of corporate communications for the association.

http://www.mlive.com/news/muchronicle/index.ssf?/base/news-12/118952378465750.xml&coll=8