Coast Guard Surface Forces Logistics Center News

Although much of the country is welcoming spring and the warm weather that comes with it, many of the Great Lakes waterways are still laden with ice. Coast Guard icebreaking tugs continue to work on the lakes to keep critical shipping lanes clear for merchant vessels, remove hazardous obstructions to navigation and free ships stuck in ice. Their mission sustains a bi-national economy and keeps maritime crews safe. This year’s icebreaking season has been a busy one filled with successful missions and a few unexpected challenges.

The third National Security Cutter, Stratton, successfully completed builder’s trials in Pascagoula, Miss., Friday marking a significant step in preparing Stratton for delivery to the U.S. Coast Guard. Builder’s trials are the shipbuilder’s first opportunity to operate the cutter at sea and survey the current status of shipboard systems. Teams from Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding and Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors operated propulsion, communications, damage control…