Cutter ‘Mackinaw’, fleetmates still busy assisting ships in St. Mary’s River and Whitefish Bay
April 05, 08 by TheFleetIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
By MIKE FORNES | Source: Cheboygan Tribune
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - Heavy ship traffic is reported in the vicinity of the Soo Locks, St. Mary’s River and Whitefish Bay as the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw and other icebreaking vessels are hustling to assist those in need.
The Mackinaw has been actively conducting icebreaking operations in Whitefish Bay and the lower St. Mary’s River over the last week.
Cmdr. John Little, the Mackinaw’s captain, said Wednesday that conditions of plate ice from 12 to 30 inches thick with brash ice of more than six feet remains in most of Whitefish Bay.
Little said his ship and crew have conducted more than 50 vessel assists to commercial shipping within the last few days alone while also conducting five direct assists to ships beset in heavy ice, freeing them to resume their transits.
“Some of these assists came within the narrowest portions of the lower St. Mary’s River in the turns of Winter Point, Johnson Point and Stribling Point,” Little continued.
Also conducting superb efforts as a part of “Team Taconite” are the cutters Biscayne Bay, Katmai Bay and Neah Bay; all three 140-foot ships are assisting vessel transits in the lower river while Mackinaw works in very thick shifting ice in Whitefish Bay.
“Tuesday’s weather has really thrown Operation Taconite a curve as winds in Whitefish Bay were at 40 knots from the north and previously established tracks are rapidly closing,” Little added.
More quotes, details to this excellent story at the Cheboygan Tribune >>
