BAY CITY, Mich. (AP) — A Norwegian ship described as the largest Viking vessel in the world is headed for Chicago after raising enough money to leave Michigan and continue at least part of a Great Lakes tour.
The unexpected cost of hiring a pilot while in U.S. waters has upset the plans of the crew aboard the Draken. But The Bay City Times says the ship will leave Bay City for Chicago, probably Wednesday. The rest of the trip remains unsettled.
The U.S. Coast Guard said federal law requires a privately hired pilot on the foreign vessel. The cost is $400 an hour. The Draken had planned to go to Chicago, Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota.
The Sons of Norway, a cultural group in Minneapolis, is raising money for the Draken.
