A massive Great Lakes freighter narrowly avoided disaster when it came alarmingly close to crashing into a seawall beneath a bridge linking the U.S. and Canada. This incident occurred on May 27, 2025, as the MV American Spirit veered dangerously near the western shores of the St. Clair River, right under the Blue Water Bridge that connects Port Huron, Michigan, with Sarnia, Ontario.
Videos shared online show the ship sailing perilously close to the Michigan riverbank around 1:45 PM. Thankfully, the vessel corrected its course just in time, steering clear of the Blue Water Bridge.
Lt. Phillip Gurtler of the U.S. Coast Guard's Ninth District stated that they are currently investigating the situation and are aware of what transpired. The U.S.-flagged freighter, a self-loading bulk carrier operated by the American Seamship Company and owned by Rand Logistics, faced quite a close call.
Jocelyn Garza, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Transportation, commented that while it was a tight situation, the bridge was not at risk of being struck due to the freighter's height and the distance between the pier and the seawall. She also mentioned that the bridge doesn't have piers underwater, and even if the freighter had collided with the seawall, it was unlikely to cause significant damage to the pier. However, the investigation continues to ascertain why the freighter took such a perilous route.
References: MLive, Nautical Voice
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