U.S. Coast Guard Cutters Mackinaw (foreground) and Alder continue ice breaking operations for Operation Taconite on Lake Superior, creating tracks that will enable 18 vessels to continue transiting to and from the lower Great Lakes, April 7, 2015. (Canadian Coast Guard)
(Tribune News Service) — Winter is here, and ice is forming on the northern Great Lakes, prompting the start of ice-breaking season on Lake Superior.
The U.S. Coast Guard launched Operation Taconite at 1 p.m. on Wednesday with one icebreaker assigned so far, according to a news release. This is the USCG’s largest domestic ice breaking operation, encompassing Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, the St. Marys River, the Straits of Mackinac and the Georgian Bay.
USCG Cutter SPAR is the first ship assigned to the operation. SPAR will break ice on western Lake Superior between the ports of Duluth, Minn., and Superior, Wis. Additional icebreakers will be assigned as ice coverage expands.
Some commercial waterways may close to protect the marine environment, and to ensure safety for cross-channel traffic such as ferries and island residents who use natural ice bridges to commute to the mainland.
The Coast Guard recommends all recreational ice users plan their activities carefully, use caution on the ice and stay clear from shipping channels.
During Operation Taconite, commercial vessels must comply with additional safety precautions, which may include restricting tanker transits to daylight in the presence of ice, reducing speeds by 2 mph in some areas to reduce incidental ice breaking, and additional position reporting.
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