Coast Guard Icebreakers Battle Spring Ice as Season Opens

The Great Lakes shipping season is in full swing, but ice remains the dominant story across the upper lakes as U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard cutters work around the clock to clear channels for commercial traffic. Since the Soo Locks opened, icebreakers have assisted 43 commercial vessels—23 upbound and 20 downbound—through the St. Marys River. The *Lee A. Tregurtha*, a 730-foot self-unloader, had to be cut out by USCGC *Spar* on April 3 after becoming beset in thick ice just miles off Duluth following sea trials at Fraser Shipyards. The vessel subsequently diverted to Duluth to load ore at CN, departing its original destination at Marquette. Conditions remain treacherous in the narrows. The West Neebish Channel continues to be choked with ice, forcing the closure of the Neebish Island Ferry service between Barbeau and the island. The U.S. Coast Guard reports that unfavorable winds combined with upstream ice backlog have packed ice so heavily throughout the St. Marys River that natural flushing is impossible. Forecasters expect these conditions to persist for up to two weeks, with icebreakers standing by until weather improves. Meanwhile, USCGC *Mackinaw* has headed to Midland, Ontario, in an unusual cross-border move to clear ice for the CSL self-unloader *Thunder Bay*, which has been wintering there. Lake Superior continues to batter ships with gale-force winds and seas to 3 feet, while Lake Huron faces 8-foot waves under its own gale warning through this evening. Water levels remain favorable: Lake Erie stands 1.99 feet above Low Water Datum, and Lake Ontario at 2.41 feet—well above seasonal minimums that might otherwise restrict loaded transits. The *James R. Barker* made a rare port call at Conneaut, Ohio, on April 3 to discharge iron ore, a departure from her typical Great Lakes runs. Spring ice management has proven more challenging than in recent years, according to Coast Guard commanders. The cooperative icebreaking effort between U.S. and Canadian services underscores how intertwined Great Lakes commerce remains with binational coordination.