After announcing the beginning of annual ice patrols and efforts to break the ice on parts of the Great Lakes and shipping lanes, the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard have already had to come to the rescue of more than 30 ships in unusually early ice conditions.
Both Coast Guards are citing the effects of a strong winter storm that appeared the region at the end of last week creating some of the worst snow and coldest temperature conditions experienced in the region in December.
In the latest update, the USCG Cutter Neah Bay assisted the M/V James R. Barker, that was carrying 54k tons of taconite, as it got stuck in Detroit East Outer Channel, on December 28.
The Barker and three more vessels in the convoy were moving again carrying a total of 99k tons of taconite & over 19k tons of sand.
According to Isabelle Pelchat, ice-breaking superintendent for the Canadian Coast Guard’s Central Region, the recent storm led to the quick formation of ice in the western basin of Lake Erie, and the Livingstone Channel of the Detroit River.
Ms Pelchat further added that they were already recording ice up to two feet in thickness in some areas.
