Guest wrote: ↑March 4, 2024, 11:34 am
The lack of ice kinda puts the kabaash on the need for a second US ice breaker.
Is this the least ice we've ever seen at fit out?
It appears that this is the least ice cover on the Great Lakes on Day 70 (March 10), with complete daily records back to 2008/2009 at GLERL. The next lowest ice cover on March 10 the Winter of 1997/98.
Since lake temperatures are near freezing, a cold air outbreak can build an ice cover quickly.
I have an acquaintance who works on one of the fleets and he also said the locks are opening earlier. Their ship plans to be at the Soo on or around March 18.
Guest wrote: ↑March 2, 2024, 4:24 pm
With the MARK W BARKER out and doing the Cuyahoga shuttle, are there any other boats working now?
Any rumors of late fitouts or certain boats not sailing this year
With the warm temperatures and lack of ice, the efficiencies of the fleet will be tremendous during the first months compared to a bad ice year.
Northern Venture is currently running between Ashtabula and Thessalon, Ontario, near Sault Ste. Marie. One of the other McKeil boats - Harvest Spirit, for example - may start up early moving steel coils around. Algoma Niagara and Intrepid will likely layup for about a month, as usual.