[Photos All Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard -- U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Leslie Downing]

Marine investigators from Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Chicago responded to the report of a collapsed dock at ArcelorMittal Steel in Burns Harbor Tuesday morning, 6 am. The US Coast Guard says the collapse was apparently caused by the weight of a product known as mill scale from the facility -- the mill scale shifted, officials say, causing the dock to cave in. 

[U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Lt. Leslie Downing]

The Algoma Transport, a Canadian freight ship, was moored at the dock conducting cargo operations, and investigators say the partial collapse of the pier caused the vessel to ground at the dock.  Coast Guard personnel are working with representatives from ArcelorMittal to investigate the incident and monitor the condition of the pier. The Coast Guard also worked with a salvage master from North American Marine to free the grounded vessel.

Coast Guard responders observe and assess the damage of the dock at Arcelor Mittal in Burns Harbor, Ind., Sept. 25, 2012. U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Lt. Leslie Downing

There have been no reports of injuries or pollution from the pier collapse. Damage assessments of the collapsed dock and the vessel are pending.

Ports of Indiana Director of Corporate Affairs Jody Peacock told our newsroom the dock is on private property, not on Port property, and was not affecting Port operations.

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