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Cutter Alder News

02 Feb 2022

Lack of Icebreaking Hampers Great Lakes Shipping

(Photo: Great Lakes Maritime Task Force)

A lack of Coast Guard icebreaking assets is hampering U.S.-flag shipping on the Great Lakes, according to industry coalition the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force.“The inefficiency introduced into the Great Lakes Navigation System by inadequate Coast Guard icebreaking resources impacts the carriers, their customers and the entire North American Manufacturing supply chain,” said Jim Weakley, President of Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, and the Lake Carriers’ Association. “The men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard do the best they can with the resources they are provided.

12 Dec 2019

Icebreaking Kicks Off on the Great Lakes

File photo: The US Coast Guard Cutter Katmai Bay, a 140-foot ice-breaking tug, escorts a motor vessel  through Lake Michigan near Lansing Shoal, in 2014. The cutter was operating as part of Operation Taconite, which is the icebreaking operation for the northern Great Lakes. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Daniel R. Michelson)

It's that time of year.The US Coast Guard announced it has commenced icebreaking operations in response to expanded ice growth in the commercial ports of western Lake Superior.Operation Taconite, launched by Coast Guard Sector Sault Sainte Marie on Wednesday, is one of two icebreaking operations that support the Great Lakes. It encompasses Lake Superior, St. Marys River, Straits of Mackinac, Georgian Bay, Green Bay, northern Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan.The authority for Coast Guard domestic icebreaking was created in 1936, by Executive Order 7521 signed by President Franklin D.

19 Mar 2018

Duluth-Superior Shipping Season To Open Today

The anticipated departure of six vessels this week signals a strong start to the 2018 commercial shipping season for the Port of Duluth-Superior and the entire region. All will be leaving their winter berths to load iron ore for delivery to steel mills on the Lower Great Lakes—this nation’s industrial heartland. U.S. Coast Guard cutter Alder made several passes through the ice in the shipping channels last week, and, starting today, Heritage Marine tugs will be assisting with breakout operations in the harbor. Exact departure times are difficult to pinpoint during start-up, especially with strong winds and shifting ice conditions plus final onboard inspections in progress.

15 Dec 2017

USCG Begins Icebreaking in the Western Great Lakes

The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, a 240-foot heavy icebreaker, breaks ice near Marine City, Mich., along the St. Clair River, Jan. 28, 2015. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Daniel R. Michelson)

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Sainte Marie has commenced icebreaking Operation Taconite in response to expanded ice growth in the commercial ports of western Lake Superior and the lower St. Marys River. Before ice impedes commercial navigation, icebreakers were assigned to each region. U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alder was assigned to manage the ice breaking needs of western Lake Superior, specifically the twin ports of Duluth, Minn., and Superior, Wisc., as well as the Port of Thunder Bay, Ont. U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Biscayne Bay was assigned to the St. Marys River.

19 Dec 2016

Ice breaking Begins in Great Lakes

The Coast Guard Cutter Alder approaches the Portage Lake Lift Bridge in Houghton, Mich., Dec. 16, 2016. The Alder and other Great Lakes Coast Guard cutters commenced Operation Taconite, the Coast Guard’s largest domestic ice-breaking operation, encompassing Lake Superior, the St. Mary’s River, the Straits of Mackinac and Lake Michigan, Dec. 19, 2016. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Sainte Marie commenced Operation Taconite Monday in response to developing ice conditions in the commercial ports of western Lake Superior and the St Marys River. Operation Taconite is the Coast Guard’s largest domestic ice-breaking operation, encompassing Lake Superior, the St. Mary’s River, the Straits of Mackinac and Lake Michigan. As a result of the operation, certain waterways may close after due consideration is given to the protection of the marine environment…

15 Jan 2016

USCG Begins Icebreaking in Western Great Lakes

Cutter Mackinaw (USCG file photo)

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste Marie on Wednesday commenced Operation Taconite, an icebreaking mission launched in response to expanded ice growth in the commercial ports of western Lake Superior, Green Bay and the lower St. Marys River. Before ice impeded commercial navigation, several icebreakers were assigned to each region. Recently, Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw was dispatched to assist two vessels into the Port of Green Bay. Coast Guard Cutter Alder was assigned to manage the ice breaking needs of western Lake Superior, specifically the twin ports of Duluth, Minn., and Superior, Wisc.

20 Jul 2015

USCG Medevac Man from Sailboat on Lake Huron

U.S. Coast Guard crews conducted a MEDEVAC of a 74-year-old man from a 35-foot sailboat involved in the Bell's Beer Bayview Mackinac Race early Sunday morning on northern Lake Huron. The man's name is not being released by the Coast Guard and there is no video or imagery available for this case. Just before 6:30 a.m., the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Alder, homeported in Duluth, Minnesota, and deployed to assist with the race, was contacted by the sailboat stating that a crew member had lost consciousness for approximately three minutes and had a history of heart issues. Alder diverted to assist and it was determined by the on-call Coast Guard flight surgeon that a MEDEVAC was necessary.

27 Aug 2013

Great Lakes Joint Security/Oil Spill Response Exercises

Cutter Alder off Duluth: Photo credit USCG

The Coast Guard, along with other federal, tribal, state and local agencies, is conducting a full-scale, anti-terrorism and oil spill response exercise in the Port of Duluth-Superior Aug. 28-29, 2013. In addition to Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Duluth, participants in Operation Peeking Duck will include maritime industry representatives from the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, oil spill response agencies, as well as representatives from fire, emergency management and local law enforcement agencies.

28 Mar 2013

Coastguard Rescues Lakers Stuck in Ice

The Cutter Mackinaw comes ahead and creates a track through the ice for the motor vessel James R. Barker (which had become stuck in brash ice) to follow in the vicinity of the Johnson Point Turn in the lower St. Marys River. Photo: USCG

Three icebreaking cutters worked together to keep traffic moving through the St. Mary’s River. The  U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, a 240-foot icebreaker homeported in Cheboygan, Mich., along with Coast Guard Cutter Alder, a 225-foot buoy tender with ice-breaking capabilities homeported in Duluth, Minn., and the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley assisted vessels in the ice-bound river. The Mackinaw, CCGS Samuel Risley along with the Coast Guard Cutter Alder, freed the motor vessel Manitowoc from an ice plug in the vicinity of Whitefish Bay.

07 Dec 2010

Coast Guard Begins Ice Breaking Ops, Western Great Lakes

The U.S. Coast Guard commenced Operation Taconite this afternoon 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 icebreaking operation, encompassing Lake Superior, St. Mary’s River, the Straits of Mackinac, and northern Lake Huron. 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.

06 Feb 2004

Atlantic Area Commander to Launch Cutter

Vice Admiral James D. Hull, Commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area, will be the keynote speaker at the launch of the Coast Guard Cutter Alder Saturday in Marinette, Wis. Alder is the last of the fleet of Juniper B-class, 225-foot sea-going buoy tenders, to be built at the Marinette Marine Corporation shipyard. The Coast Guard's Buoy Tender Replacement Project, a major acquisition to replace the WW II era 180-ft. buoy tenders, began in 1996 when the Cutter Juniper was commissioned. Mrs. Judith Hull will serve as the ship’s sponsor and christen the vessel as Coast Guard Cutter Alder, when it is launched from the Marinette shipyard. Mrs. Hull will christen the Alder by breaking a bottle of champagne across its bow.

05 Feb 2004

New Cutter to be Launched

On Saturday, February 7 the Marinette Marine Corp. (MMC) will launch the U. S. Coast Guard cutter Alder. Alder is part of the plan to replace the Coast Guard’s World War II era 180-foot cutters. Alder is a 225-foot Juniper Class seagoing buoy tender with icebreaking capabilities. It is the 16th cutter of a planned fleet of sixteen to be built by MMC in Marinette. MMC also built fourteen 175-foot Keeper Class coastal buoy tenders for the Coast Guard. In October 2001 MMC was award the contract to build an icebreaker to replace the Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw, ‘the Great Lakes Icebreaker’. Mrs. Judy Hull, wife of Vice Admiral James Hull, is the cutter’s sponsor. Vice Admiral Hull, the Atlantic Area commander, will be the keynote speaker. Alder will be homeported in Duluth, Minn.

09 Feb 2004

Manitowoc Group Launches Cutter

The Manitowoc Company, Inc. has launched the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alder, the last ship in a series of 16 seagoing buoy tenders being built at Manitowoc’s Marinette Marine subsidiary. This 225-ft, Juniper-class vessel is part of a series of contracts that were awarded to Marinette in 1993 and 1998. “ALDER is a highly sophisticated cutter that will help the U.S. Coast Guard’s homeland security efforts and other missions,” said Dennis McCloskey, president of Manitowoc’s Marine Group. The launch ceremony, which took place on February 7, featured Vice Admiral James D.

05 Mar 2004

Vessels: Manitowoc Group Launches Another Cutter

The Manitowoc Company, Inc. launched the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alder, the last ship in a series of 16 seagoing buoy tenders being built at Manitowoc's Marinette Marine subsidiary. This 225-ft, Juniper-class vessel is part of a series of contracts that were awarded to Marinette in 1993 and 1998. "Alder is a highly sophisticated cutter that will help the U.S. Coast Guard's homeland security efforts and other missions," said Dennis McCloskey, president of Manitowoc's Marine Group. The launch ceremony, which took place on February 7, featured Vice Admiral James D. Hull, Commander of the Atlantic Area, as the keynote speaker, with Judith Hull, the admiral's wife and sponsor of the ship, performing the traditional christening ceremony. The U.S.