Ice Update

CSL LAURENTIEN, with escort from NEAH BAY, arrived in Conneaut last Friday to load taconite pellets for U.S. Steel in Nanticoke. The vessel departed today, and with escort from Canadian medium icebreaker DES GROSSEILLIERS, brought onto the lakes from the St. Lawrence River to assist with Icebreaking, is currently arriving in Nanticoke. DES GROSSEILLIERS will then assist ALGOEAST westbound out of Nanticoke.

Yesterday morning a convoy of four vessels, three of them icebound in the Welland Canal since last Friday awaiting a slight thaw before proceeding, got underway with assistance from DES GROSSEILLIERS. ALGOMA ENTERPRISE, ALGOMA EQUINOX, SEA EAGLE II/ST. MARYS CEMENT II, and BAIE COMEAU were westbound off of Erie at 1800 and arrived in the Detroit River around midday today.

Ice continues to be a problem in Lake Superior, where, a week after the opening of the Soo Locks, the only vessel to lock through thus far has been the PIERRE RADISSON, a Canadian icebreaker also brought in from the St. Lawrence River to assist. Several vessels, including EDWIN H. GOTT, which left Erie March 23, remain below Detour awaiting assistance to head upbound. USCGC MACKINAW, assisting CASON J. CALLAWAY and JOHN G. MUNSON, which left Two Harbors, Minnesota on March 26, will probably reach the Soo within the next couple of days and be the first commercial passages when they lock downbound.

It has been many years since ice this bad has been seen on the Great Lakes.

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CSL LAURENTIEN beset outside of Conneaut harbor on Friday.


Entering the piers.


NEAH BAY heads up the lake. She was tasked with flood relief in Ashtabula and Fairport Harbor that day.


LAURENTIEN approaches the P&C Slip.


Alongside.


DES GROSEILLIERS leading ALGOMA ENTERPRISE westbound off of Erie late this afternoon.


ALGOMA EQUINOX follows behind ENTERPRISE.


Left to right: ALGOMA EQUINOX, SEA EAGLE II/ST. MARYS CEMENT II, and BAIE COMEAU.


The sun sets over the convoy.