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Icebreaking operations begin in St. Mary's River

Yup. You know it's getting cold when they send the icebreakers into the river. Here's the heart-warming news, as sent to SooToday.com this afternoon by the U.S.
USCoastGuardSaultPatch

Yup.

You know it's getting cold when they send the icebreakers into the river.

Here's the heart-warming news, as sent to SooToday.com this afternoon by the U.S. Coast Guard:

********************** Coast Guard begins icebreaking operations in the Northern Great Lakes

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – The Coast Guard commenced Operation Taconite this morning after colder than normal temperatures continued to increase ice formation in the northern Great Lakes region. Operation Taconite is the Coast Guard’s largest domestic icebreaking operation, encompassing Lake Superior, St. Mary’s River, and the Straits of Mackinac.

As a result of the operation the Captain of the Port may close or open channels as ice conditions require after giving due consideration 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.

Currently there are no channel closures, however the implementation of Operation Taconite will place some additional measures on shipping through the St. Mary’s River and Straits such as restricting tanker transits to daylight only with escorts, reducing speeds by 2 m.p.h. in various parts of the river, and placing additional reporting points throughout the operation’s area.

The Coast Guard would like to remind all recreational ice users that there are no channel closures at this time, and to plan their activity 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 channel closures.

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David Helwig

About the Author: David Helwig

David Helwig's journalism career spans seven decades beginning in the 1960s. His work has been recognized with national and international awards.
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