The Big Mack is in Town

After spending the morning breaking ice in front of the Duluth Shipping Canal, the Cutter Mackinaw cruised under the Duluth Lift Bridge this afternoon.  The Mighty Mack is in town to help break up harbor ice prior to the first laker getting underway on Tuesday.

Take a look around the Mackinaw Control Bridge

Cutter Alder Breaking Ice 3/13/2013

The Cutter Alder was once again breaking ice in the Duluth Harbor.

Alder Breaking Ice again today

The CGC Alder will be out breaking ice today under clear blue skies. For the first time this season it will pass under the Duluth Aerial Bridge to take a swipe at the Lake Superior ice shelf.

Alder Breaks the Ice

For the first time this season, the CGC Alder began opening the harbor ice with a routine ice breaking venture.

The cutter will be working in the harbor until the ice is cleared and regular shipping begins in a few weeks.

Ice Breaking to start Monday!

The Coast Guard will begin icebreaking operations in the Twin Ports area on Monday. While normal shipping is a few weeks away, the warming sun is beginning to take it's toll on ice conditions.
View Cutter Gallery HERE.

CGC Alder in 2012

Retired Cutter Sundew (2003)

Spring is here - Coast Guard warns Lake Superior ice starting to thin, shift

Coast Guard warns Lake Superior ice starting to thin, shift
Warming conditions, shifting winds and a sun higher in the sky are starting the annual spring thaw, and causing ice on Lake Superior, the Duluth-Superior harbor and rivers entering the lake to be unsafe, the Coast Guard said Thursday.