The company that operates twin oil pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac says one of the lines suspected of being struck by a tugboat anchor was dented more than three-fourths of an inch.
According to Associated Press, Enbridge Inc. official Peter Holran told the Michigan Pipeline Advisory Board in Lansing Monday about the April 1 damage to the pipelines running between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Company spokesman Ryan Duffy says each pipeline is about 20 inches in diameter with walls nearly an inch thick — but the thickness of the walls did not decrease.
Holran says the other pipe suffered two dents of just under three-quarters of an inch and less than a half-inch.
The suspected anchor strike also caused about 600 gallons (2,270 litres) of mineral oil insulation fluid to leak from two electric cables.
(Associated Press)
