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A request by environmental groups to ban anchoring in the Straits of Mackinac, to prevent further damage to the Line 5 dual pipelines has been denied by the U. S. Coast Guard.
Captain Anthony Jones, Sault Ste. Marie Captain of Port, confirmed the damage to both Line 5 segments this Summer was likely caused by Enbridge contracted vessels.
Enbridge raised the possibility that the damage could’ve been caused by it’s own vessels, in a report shared with the state, but did not make any conclusions, leaving the door open that it could’ve been a non-Enbridge vessel.
Ryan Duffy, Enbridge spokesman said his company has reviewed the Coast Guard’s letter, but is still working on a conclusion.
Jones also wrote in his letter denying the groups request to halt anchoring that the existing Regulated Naval Area regulations are sufficient to protect charted, submerged pipeline and cable areas from accidental deployment of anchors from vessels transiting the Regulated Navigation Area.
A marine calamity was not caused by the damage to the pipelines, which would’ve allowed the Coast Guard to take further action.
Jones also noted he found areas for the Coast Guards protocols for processing anchorage requests that needed improvement, and will have changes implemented in the next 90 days.
