Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The lake freighter Manitoulin, stuck in the growing Lake Erie ice field off Buffalo since Wednesday, is getting help from yet another icebreaking vessel from the Canadian Coast Guard Saturday.
The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Bristol Bay worked to break the ice Thursday and Friday after arriving in Buffalo, and will continue to assist the efforts Saturday.
The requested assistance from the Canadian Coast Guard is part of a joint partnership to conduct ice-breaking on the Great Lakes through “Operation Coal Shovel.” Operation Coal Shovel spans an area of responsibility from southern Lake Huron, through the St. Clair and Detroit River system, and into Lake Erie and Lake Ontario including the St. Lawrence Seaway. Through this, U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers work together to facilitate the navigation of vessels.
The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley, is an ice-breaking buoy tender home-ported at Canadian Coast Guard Base Parry Sound in Ontario, Canada and was nearing Buffalo early Saturday morning.
The Samuel Risley is a 229-foot icebreaker with the capability to break ice up to 3.3 feet thick at 3 knots.
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Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, a 240-foot icebreaker home-ported in Cheboygan, Michigan, is making its way toward the Manitoulin, should both cutters require further assistance.
The Manitoulin has 17 crew members aboard and 5 days of provisions and will make arrangements for more provisions if needed. There have been no reports of safety concerns for the crew or the ship at this time.
“The U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard are working closely to deploy all necessary assets to assist the Manitoulin,” said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Armstrong, Commander, Sector Detroit. “Safety of life on our waterways remains paramount and both Coast Guards will continue to monitor the situation and render assistance as necessary.”