COPPER HARBOR – The Isle Royale Queen IV will resume normal operations in one to five days, one of its owners said Wednesday, the day after the vessel ran aground on a gravel bar close to Copper Harbor.

The grounding, which occurred about 8:20 p.m. Tuesday, happened after the ship was pushed off course by a steady south wind between Hunter’s Point and Porter’s Island. Ben Kilpela, who was piloting the ship and owns the Queen along with his two brothers, estimated it was about a 15 mph breeze.

“It caught me on the side there, and I was just not prepared for that strong a breeze on the north side of the harbor,” Kilpela said. “I just made a bad judgment, and it’s all on me.”

The U.S. Coast Guard inspected the ship and found no structural damage, Kilpela said. The grounding did damage two rudders, which need to be repaired.

The U.S. Coast Guard Marine Service Unit from Duluth continues to investigate the incident, said Lt. Com. Jerry Butwid.

“We’ve got two Coast Guard inspectors on scene, and they’re working with the company to ensure that the vessel is safe for future voyages,” he said.

There were no injuries in the accident, and no oil was spilled into the harbor.

People who had booked return trips on the Queen will be brought back aboard the Ranger III. A planned return trip Wednesday was cancelled because of gale conditions causing 8- to 10-foot waves near the island, said Levi Goodloch, an office staffer at Isle Royale National Park. Tonight’s scheduled Keweenaw Cruise on the Ranger III has also been cancelled.

Kilpela thanked residents who volunteered their time for more than three hours Tuesday night to bring the passengers back to shore and pull the Queen out.

“They were true heroes, and we’re really grateful for all those people did,” he said.

Of the 82 passengers, none expressed anger or fear during the ordeal, Kilpela said.

“They tried to enjoy being aground for an hour and a half or so,” he said. “They just took it with great skill and aplomb, and they were just wonderful people.”

Kilpela, who has been a captain since 1978, hopes the ship will keep a good reputation with its loyal customers.

“We made a big mistake here, and we’re going to do our best to get the boat repaired, get it ship-shape, have the Coast Guard re-inspect it to make sure it’s safe and sound … it’s just heartbreaking,” he said. “I know I’ve ruined a lot of vacations. People love Isle Royale a lot, and I do too. … We’re going to try to get back online as quickly as we can.”