Great lake boats, a good video

[ArlyA]

The USCG has began ice breaking operations.

found on. Coast Guard begins ice breaking operations in the Western Great Lakes

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Posted: Mon 11:52 AM, Jan 07, 2019

SAULT STE MARIE, Mich. (WLUC) - U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Sainte Marie commenced Operation Taconite, the Coast Guard’s largest domestic icebreaking operation, Monday, in response to expanded ice growth in the commercial ports of Western Lake Superior and the St. Marys River.

Operation Taconite encompasses Lake Superior, St. Marys River, Straits of Mackinac, Georgian Bay, Green Bay, northern Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan. Ice breaking operations are based on the following order of priorities: search and rescue, urgent response to vessels in deteriorating weather conditions, exigent community services for flood control and remote communities in immediate need of food, fuel for heat, energy, or and medical assistance, and facilitation of navigation.

In the coming weeks, various commercial waterways may close after due consideration is given to the protection of the marine environment and the safety of island residents who, in the course of their daily business, use naturally formed ice bridges for transportation to and from the mainland.

The authority for Coast Guard domestic ice breaking was created in 1936, by a signed Executive Order 7521 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt directing the U.S. Coast Guard “to assist in keeping open to navigation by means of ice breaking operations, in so far as practicable, and as the exigencies may require, channels and harbors in accordance with the reasonable demands of commerce.”

 

[ArlyA]

The St Claire which is a US steel flagged boat tied up in Oregon, Ohio caught fire. They believe this relatively new boat, might be a total loss. From Boat Nerd Great Lakes and Seaway Shipping - BoatNerd.Com

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2/19 - Oregon, Ohio - 3 p.m. update - Monday night the fire aboard the St. Clair had stopped burning. The Oregon Ohio Fire Department reported that they were no longer on scene and the investigation continues. Tuesday the St. Clair was reported to be listing and required to be pumped out. It is unclear if the water was from fire fighting or another source.

Original Report: Monday Fire crews had been unable to enter the St. Clair to fight the fire because it is still too dangerous due to the intense heat and smoke. The fire is expected to be burning for days to come. The fire department has no idea when the fire will be extinguished. The U. S. Coast Guard, the National Transportation board as well as other agencies are on scene monitoring the fire.

 

[ArlyA]

Taken off of Boatnerd today. Seems that folks have lost interest in this thread??


Lake Superior nearly 100 percent frozen as cold and snow increases ice coverage

3/13 - Duluth, Minn. – It has been an impressive winter on Lake Superior. That’s because ice has covered nearly 100 percent of the big lake.

According to a professor at University of Minnesota Duluth, the lake hasn’t seen this much ice since 2014. And, it will have an effect on our summer.

“The timing of the start of that layer of warm water forming plays a huge role in sort of what sort of warm temperatures we see in the middle of the summer,” said Prof. Jay Austin, with the Large Lake Observatory. “This’ll be a cooler summer, yeah. And in fact the relationship there is pretty strong.”

This is only the fifth time in 20 years that Lake Superior has had more than 90 percent ice coverage. The last time the lake froze over was in 1996.

 

[RobS]

The shipping season is on!

http://s.mlive.com/udJY7UJ

 

[MossRoad]

The shipping season is on!

http://s.mlive.com/udJY7UJ

Apparently that ship has already gone to it's destination on Superior, turned around and is now down in Burns Harbor.

Vessel details for: STEWART J.CORT (Self Discharging Bulk Carrier) - IMO 715495, MMSI 36755, Call Sign WDC655 Registered in USA | AIS Marine Traffic

 

[MossRoad]

MarineTraffic: Global Ship Tracking Intelligence | AIS Marine Traffic

 

[ArlyA]

Yes, the shipping season had been running for awhile now but the boats are having difficulty with ice.

Here is a great video of the tug/barge JOYCE L.VANENKEVORT doing his own ice breaking at Two Harbors MN.

JOYCE L.VANENKEVORT (improvised ice breaker) arrived Two Harbors 3/27/219 - YouTube

 

[cqaigy2]

Nice video.

 

[ArlyA]

Oh, Here is a video of the CG Cutter Katmai Bay breaking ice ahead of Paul R Tregurtha (largest boat on da lakes)... This was taken this past week and has pretty sound of ice running against there steel hull..

Freighters frozen on Lake Michigan, Ice Breaking and Mackinac Bridge - 3/25/219 - YouTube

 

[ArlyA]

Here is a video made by the Duluth news tribune about one of the tugs in use at in there harbor.

Tugboats help cut ice for season's early ships | Duluth News Tribune