Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin, Canadian Freighter is Stuck in Detroit River

Vessel Grounds in Detroit River En Route to Quebec

A cargo vessel bound for Quebec ran aground in the Detroit River near downtown Detroit around 4:00 p.m. on November 7, 2025.

Preliminary reports indicate that strong winds, a soft river bottom, and low water levels were contributing factors in the grounding. The vessel sustained no damage, and no injuries were reported among the crew. Marine traffic along the river on Friday night delayed salvage operations to refloat the vessel. At that time, authorities had not yet determined how deeply the ship was embedded in the riverbed.

According to Canada Steamship Lines (CSL), a Montreal-based company, the vessel is a Canadian steamship originally built in 1973 and later converted into a self-unloading ship in 2003.

The vessel, known as the Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin, measures more than 700 feet in length and is one of Canada Steamship Lines’ self-unloading ships. It was traveling from Sault Ste. Marie to Quebec. It is believed to be carrying iron ore pellets.

Update Saturday 8 November 2025

Five tugboats — Patricia Hoey, Ohio, Minnesota, Tenacious, and Ontario — arrived at the site to help refloat the freighter. According to an email statement, crews began pumping water into the vessel’s aft peak tank to reduce pressure at the bow, where it had become stuck in the soft riverbed. The operation to free the ship took approximately three hours.

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