[3] On April 28, 2000, the vessel lost steering and struck Light number 7 in the Lake Huron Cut.

Temporary repairs were made to control the flooding and the crew lightened the vessel by offloading 3,100 tons of cargo from the number one hold into fleet mate Adam E. Cornelius.

Because American Mariner was blocking the channel, the U. S. Coast Guard temporarily closed the area to commercial navigation.

[4] By the afternoon of the following day, she had been cleared to move and left the site under her own power, allowing the shipping channel to be reopened.

[5][6] After a stop at anchor in Raber Bay to more fully assess damage, the ship proceeded to Ashtabula, Ohio for repairs.