Coast Guard Icebreaking Operations Underway in Great Lakes

The Canadian Coast Guard, in partnership with the United States Coast Guard and the Ontario Provincial Police, has an important safety message for all ice surface users near icebreaking operations and shipping routes in the Great Lakes.

Broken and fragmented icy tracks left behind by icebreaking operations and other ship traffic may not freeze over immediately. Newly fallen snow may obscure icebreaker and ship tracks and changes in weather contribute to unsafe ice conditions that may remain long after the ships have left the area. All ice on or near the planned shipping routes and icebreaking operations should be considered unsafe during and after ship transits through these routes. The Canadian Coast Guard, the United States Coast Guard and Ontario Provincial Police are advising everyone to stay clear of these areas.

Icebreaking operations are currently underway in various areas of the Great Lakes. The following area will see icebreaking activity in the near future:

• Icebreaking operations may begin as early as January 2 to January 7, 2014 near Midland and in Owen Sound, Ontario. The Canadian Coast Guard or the United States Coast Guard will be providing icebreaking assistance to the MV Frontenac and MV Algorail.