USCG informed that the US Coast Guard Cutter ‘Neah Bay’ and Coast Guard Cutter ‘Morro Bay’, two 140-foot bay class ice-breaking tugs home-ported in Cleveland, freed 4 vessels stuck in ice in western Lake Erie and the St. Clair River.
Lake Erie experiences very low temperatures, which caused ice to form rapidly over the lake leading to the motor vessels ‘John J. Boland’, ‘Hon Paul J. Martin’, ‘Indiana Harbor’ and ‘James R. Barker’ to become stuck in ice.
The John J. Boland was the first to become stuck in ice in western Lake Erie late Monday, and was freed by the Morro Bay on Wednesday.
The Indiana Harbor was beset by ice in the Middle Channel, St. Clair River on Tuesday, and was broken out of ice by the Neah Bay.
The Hon Paul J. Martin stuck in western Lake Erie, Tuesday, and was broken out by the Morro Bay.
Lastly, the James R. Barker was first beset by ice in western Lake Erie and broken out by the tug Calusa Coast, Tuesday, but it the stuch again and was freed of the ice by the Morro Bay.
Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes and as a result, it freezes fast. At the ice covers over 20% of Lake Erie, well above the seasonal norm of 5% for this time of year. Moreover, weather reports indicate that Lake Erie will concentrate more ice over the next week.
With the shipping season ending on January 15, 2018, USCG cutters will continue to break ice to ensure that waterways stay navigable for cargo ships on the Great Lakes.
“The Coast Guard’s ice-breaking mission includes not only facilitation of commercial navigation, but also the provision of ice-breaking services for search and rescue, emergency operations and flood mitigation,” USCG mentions.
USCG is currently gearing up as a powerful winter storm with damaging winds, snowfall, and potential for coastal flooding is expected to impact the US this week.
As conditions deteriorate overnight, heavy winds, snow and freezing spray can put vessels at risk of sinking at their anchorage points or pier due to the ice and accumulation of snow, USCG warns.
