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Ice breaking starts in Lake Superior

NEWS RELEASE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD ************************* Coast Guard begins ice breaking operations in the western Great Lakes SAULT STE.
icebreakinglakesuperior

NEWS RELEASE

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

************************* Coast Guard begins ice breaking operations in the western Great Lakes

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI - The Coast Guard commenced Operation Taconite this morning in response to colder temperatures and the resultant ice growth in the western Great Lakes region.

Operation Taconite is the Coast Guard’s largest domestic ice breaking operation, encompassing Lake Superior, the St. Marys River, the Straits of Mackinac and Lake Michigan.

As a result of the operation, certain waterways may close once due consideration is given to the protection of the marine environment, waterway improvements, aids to navigation, the need for cross channel traffic (e.g. ferries), the availability of icebreakers and the safety of the island residents who, in the course of their daily business, use naturally formed ice bridges for transportation to and from the mainland.

Initially, only one Coast Guard icebreaker will be assigned to Operation Taconite.

USCGC Katmai Bay, from Sault Ste. Marie, MI, has been ordered to make its way west towards Duluth, MN to provide ice breaking services, while CGC Alder is away working aids to navigation.

In the coming days and weeks, additional Coast Guard ice breakers will join the operation.

Currently there are no channel closures.

However, the implementation of Operation Taconite does place additional measures on commercial shipping plying the western lakes, the St. Marys River and the Straits of Mackinac.

These measures may include restricting tanker transits to daylight only in the presence of ice, reducing speeds by 2 miles per hour in various locations and requiring additional voice and position reporting points throughout the operation’s area of responsibility.

The Coast Guard would like to advise all recreational ice users there are currently no channel closures, and to plan their activities carefully, use caution on the ice and stay away from shipping channels.

Recreational users and island residents should stay tuned to local media resources for the status of waterway closures.

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