Two lawsuits were filed suits this week against VanEnkevort Tug and Barge, the company allegedly responsible for an anchor drop on cables beneath the Straits of Mackinac in April.
Both Enbridge Energy and American Transmission Company are seeking to recoup money from damages to their lines.
The US Coast Guard investigation into the anchor drop is still ongoing and officials have not yet confirmed the anchor belonged to a VanEnkevort vessel - although Attorney General Bill Schuette filed suit in April against the company.
In their court filing, lawyers for American Transmission Company cite VanEnkevort’s negligence as the cause of the line break which resulted in over 600 gallons of fluid leaking into the straits. The filing calls for restitution for damages incurred by the company related to the line break, including removal costs.
That amount is to be set in court.
A spokesperson for Enbridge Energy said in a statement that the Line 5 quote “remains fit for service.”
A spokesperson for VanEnkevort declined to comment.