A Lake Erie passenger vessel has been refloated after running aground on Buckeye Reef near Ballast Island, Ohio, the U.S. Coast Guard said
Coast Guard officials were notified at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday that the 117' Goodtime I, operated by Lake Erie Island Cruises LLC, Sandusky, Ohio, had grounded.
A Miller Boat Line ferry was the first on-scene but was unable to reach the Goodtime I due to draft restrictions.
The 50'6" passenger ferry Sonny-S, operated by Sonny-S Boat Line Inc., Middle Bass, Ohio, was able to navigate the area's shallow waters and evacuate more than 100 passengers from the Goodtime I, making two separate trips to Put-In-Bay, Ohio.
Once on scene, Coast Guard crews from Station Marblehead and Marine Safety Unit Toledo found that all passengers had disembarked. No pollution or injuries were reported, the agency said.
On Friday, commercial salvors from Rescue Marine, Marblehead, Ohio, lightered more than 1,500 gallons of diesel fuel from the Goodtime I to facilitate refloating efforts. By 10 p.m. that day, the Goodtime I was refloated, free and running under its own power with help from the 49'2" tug Prairieland from Geo. Gradel Co., Toledo, Ohio.
By 8:20 a.m. on Saturday, it was confirmed that the Goodtime I had transited to Port Clinton, Ohio, for a hull examination, according to the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard said it is conducting a damage assessment of the island cruiser.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
