Freighter ship in Lake Superior hit something unexplained underwater

A freighter in Lake Superior struck something underwater on Saturday and began taking on water, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard Great Lakes district received reports around 6:53 a.m. that a 689-foot (210-meter) ship called the Michipicoten had collided with an object approximately 35 miles (56 kilometers) southwest of Isle Royale, part of Michigan. The ship was carrying taconite, a low-grade iron ore, and had 22 people aboard.

Onboard water pumps began displacing the water, and there were no signs of any spills from the ship. By 9:15 a.m., the water pumps had reduced the freighter’s list from 15 degrees to 5 degrees, according to the Coast Guard.

Helicopter and boat crews were responding, and by 12:30 p.m., the Coast Guard reported that half of the crew had been evacuated for safety. The ship was en route to a port for inspection and repairs.

The cause of the collision is under investigation.

The incident occurred in the northwest part of the lake, which straddles the U.S.-Canadian border and is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area.