Viking ship headed to Chicago after stop at Michigan festival

Kurt Hausbeck, manager for Bay City’s Public Works Department, waves to the crew of the Draken Harald Harfagre as it sails through Independence Bridge, departing Bay City, Mich. on the Saginaw River on Wednesday. The Draken was in Bay City for the recent Tall Ship Celebration, and departed for Chicago after raising enough money to leave Michigan and continue at least part of a Great Lakes tour. | Jacob Hamilton/The Bay City Times-MLive.com, distributed by the Associated Press

BAY CITY, Mich. — A Norwegian ship described as the largest Viking vessel in the world has departed 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 upset the plans of the crew aboard the Draken. The Bay City Times reports the ship left Bay City on Wednesday.

The Draken was in Bay City for the recent Tall Ship Celebration.

The U.S. Coast Guard says federal law requires a privately hired pilot on the foreign vessel. The cost is $400 an hour. The Draken had planned stops including Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota.

The Sons of Norway, a cultural group in Minneapolis, is raising money for the Draken.

The Draken Harald Harfagre departs Bay City on the Saginaw River on Wednesday. | | Jacob Hamilton/The Bay City Times-MLive.com, distributed by the Associated Press

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