Coast Guard Ready for Great Lakes Ice Despite Vessel Shortage

Chicago on the shores of Lake Michigan which is covered in ice
The Americas Shipping
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Updated Published

The U.S. Coast Guard has said it remains prepared to support vessel navigation through icy conditions on the Great Lakes, despite facing a shortage of available icebreakers.

A total of 11 icebreaking vessels operate in the region, with nine managed by the United States and three by the Canadian Coast Guard.

Of the nine U.S. vessels, two are currently out of service undergoing repairs, according to Brian Smicklas, waterways management specialist and icebreaking coordinator for the U.S. Coast Guard.

One of the vessels is a buoy tender and the other an icebreaking tug. Both require replacement parts, but since they were built in the 1990s, sourcing those components is proving time-consuming, meaning repairs could take several months before they return to operation.

Meanwhile, the heavy icebreaker Mackinaw is described as “partially mission capable” due to issues with its bow thruster, although it remains positioned near the Soo Locks.

Ice Conditions Across the Lakes

Currently, around 20 percent of the Great Lakes is covered in ice, with the highest concentrations found in the northern areas, particularly Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Superior.

With milder temperatures in the southern regions, the Coast Guard has focused its efforts on areas with heavier ice buildup, including the Straits of Mackinac, the St. Mary’s River, and Whitefish Bay.

Industry Concerns

Eric Peace, Vice President of the Lake Carriers’ Association, explained that newly forming ice can quickly cover the channels cleared by icebreakers, noting that large sheets of ice can break away from the shoreline and drift into shipping lanes, creating hazardous conditions.

Without an icebreaker leading the way, vessels navigating narrow channels may face pressure from shifting ice, which can push ships off course, cause groundings, or even damage hulls.

Peace also stressed the importance of timely icebreaking operations, warning that delays could disrupt supply chains, particularly for the steel industry, which relies on Great Lakes shipping routes to transport raw materials essential for production.