U.S. Coast Guard working to resolve Sugar Island ferry delays

NEWS RELEASE
U.S. COAST GUARD
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The Coast Guard and the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA) are working together to resolve ferry delays caused by ice and a damaged ice boom. This morning, the Coast Guard assigned a cutter to break ice near Six Mile Point to create space for ice to flow downriver. Any ice breaking above the Sugar Island Ferry crossing will create more brash ice and will be ineffective. The ferry can run in the event of an emergency.

Two periods of very cold temperatures mixed with two periods of warmer temperatures caused significant ice buildup in the St. Marys River. The ice is breaking away from the shore, flowing to the chokepoint between Sugar Island and Mission Point. The ice boom on the northern side of the St. Marys River is damaged, adding additional ice to the area.

The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw is currently moored and refueling at Sector Sault Sainte Marie. Their next assignment is St. Clair, MI for flood control. The CGC Biscayne Bay is enroute to six mile point in the St. Marys River to begin flushing operations.

For more information contact LTJG Sean Murphy at (906) 635-3223 or [email protected], or follow the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste Marie page on Facebook.

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