Canadian and U.S. Coast Guards breaking ice on the Great Lakes
Canada and the United States are working together to encourage commerce during a frozen time of year.
By Michael McGrady, Maritime Direct Americas Correspondent
Both the Canadian and U.S. Coast Guards have begun their expansive icebreaking operations in the Great Lakes of North America. The annual icebreaking season is intended to assist the Great Lake’s shipping and maritime sectors.
The CCGS Griffon and the CCGS Samuel Risley represent the Canadians, with the USCG Cutter Alder and other Coast Guard District 9 units protecting the commerce flow through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence waterway.
District 9 reported that Alder was operating in the areas, according to the official Twitter account for the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes command. These vessels, including a variety of support vessels, are expected to remain in the region for the remainder of the winter shipping season.
“Icebreaking is an essential service provided by the Coast Guard that helps both the Canadian and United States economies remain active during the winter months,” Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard said in a statement, via a report from MarineLink.
“By collaborating with the United States Coast Guard and working closely with partners, maritime shipping on the Great Lakes can be done safely and efficiently, which ultimately allows Canada to play a vital role in economic activity and shipping maritime commerce,” Jordan added.
