The longest freighter on the Great Lakes is grounded in the St. Mary's River, the waterway connecting Lakes Superior and Huron.
Coast Guard investigators are now trying to assess the damage.
The Paul R. Tregurtha grounded early this morning south of Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, in a rocky area known to be particularly dangerous to mariners.
Lt. Rob Scott is with the U.S. Coast Guard...
"There was some damage to the vessel in way of the Bow. We don't know the exact amount of damage, the divers are en route now. But there was some water intrusion as a result of that initial grounding on the bow of the vessel."
Scott said pumps onboard the Tregurtha are keeping up with the leaks, and they don't believe pollution is an issue.
"Our Coast Guard personnel on scene have observed no pollution, and the portions that have been damaged on the vessel appear to just be what is known as voids, a space between the actual hull of the vessel and the cargo."
The Tregurtha is blocking all southbound traffic through the St. Mary's River, tying up one of the nation's busiest shipping lanes.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Michelle Hill