Goodtime I Grounded on Lake Erie Reef, Refloated and Returned to Port Clinton

2 July 2025

A Lake Erie passenger cruise vessel was successfully refloated and returned to Port Clinton on Friday night after running aground on Buckeye Reef near Ballast Island, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The incident involved the Goodtime I, a 117-foot vessel operated by Lake Erie Island Cruises LLC out of Sandusky, Ohio. Around 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, June 26, the ship became stuck on a shallow reef in the area just off South Bass Island.

Initial rescue efforts were challenged due to shallow waters. A Miller Ferry vessel arrived first but couldn’t approach due to its deeper draft. The 50-foot Sonny-S, operated by Sonny-S Boat Line out of Middle Bass Island, was able to reach the scene and safely evacuated all 107 passengers in two trips to Put-in-Bay. Six crew members also disembarked safely. No injuries or pollution were reported.

The following day, commercial salvage crews from Rescue Marine of Marblehead, Ohio, worked to remove more than 2,200 gallons of fuel from the Goodtime I, allowing it to be refloated with the assistance of the 49-foot tug Prairieland from Geo. Gradel Co. in Toledo. By 10 p.m. Friday, the vessel was moving under its own power and made it back to Port Clinton by Saturday morning for further inspection.

The U.S. Coast Guard is currently conducting a damage assessment and continues to investigate the cause of the grounding.