Ice Breaking Issues - March 2026

[Guest]

Agree - still think the idea of a anchor handling boat (like the Canadian's modified one) is the most cost effective solution vs a $500 million ice breaker.

[Guest]

Like mentioned earlier, why not just end and start the season latter? You don't have the think ice that's built up over the dormant season, and if the ice does start to come near the end of the season you have traffic going through it as it forms. I would think that would keep a path open or at least make it easier to keep a path open. I think that would be better than building another ice breaker that you only need for a limited time.

Not every Spring is like what occurred in March and April of this year. It varies from year to year. And just having a couple of weeks of bad ice conditions slowing down shipping won't impact the overall season. It was only the St. Marys river and Whitefish Bay that had the ice issues this year. When you have an early freeze-up at the beginning of Winter, you can have a quick heavy buildup of ice on the lakes, as occurred in the first week of January 2014 and severe ice conditions into late April.

With the Winter Navigation Demonstration Program funded by Congress starting in 1971 until 1978, year-round shipping became a reality in 1974-75, 1975-76, 1977-78 and 1978-79. The results of the demonstration program indicated that shipping thru the Soo Locks could be extended to January 15, with a two week extension based on the demands of commerce and weather conditions. In fact, the closing and opening dates for the Locks at the Soo are set in Public Law from March 25 (as per agreement with the state of Michigan) and closing of January 15.

I know a couple of people stated that another icebreaker should be built for the Great Lakes. On the US side, that would be highly unlikely. Such a vessel for icebreaking on the lakes needs to be multi-purpose or else it risks de-funding by the USCG and Congress when budget constraints occurs. That's what happened in the 1980s and 90s with the WAGB-83 Mackinaw. Because of its high operational costs it was repeatedly threatened with permanent retirement and if it wasn't for industry, senators and representatives pushing for its funding, that would have happened.

[Guest]

Like mentioned earlier, why not just end and start the season latter? You don't have the think ice that's built up over the dormant season, and if the ice does start to come near the end of the season you have traffic going through it as it forms. I would think that would keep a path open or at least make it easier to keep a path open. I think that would be better than building another ice breaker that you only need for a limited time.

[Guest]

Here is the Great Lakes ice thickness and concentration chart for April 30, 2026. Except for ice in Thunder Bay, Black Bay and Nipigon Bay, the rest of Lake Superior seems to be ice free.

[Guest Jon Paul]

Ice issues disappeared rather quickly within weeks of the Locks opening and after all the doom and gloom prognostications it was done without the USCG having to add other ice breaking assets.

[Guest]

Are any of the boats still having issues with ice?

[Sandpiper565]

This winter broke the 80 year old historical snowfall amount at Sault Ste. Marie. Hence will also have a big impact on ice conditions.

Currently there are 8 Ice breakers in the St Mary's River and co-areas, with the 9th ice breaker Vincent Massey now heading back home. When the ice piles up and jams in the bends or corners of the river, makes it hard for the freighters to make their big turns. Breaking the ice and flushing it out, is an interesting task for the ice breakers.

You can;
Watch the ice breakers and freighters on the https://ais.boatnerd.com webcams.
Listen to the ice breakers and freighters on the https://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/40798 marine scanner.

[Central Ohio Nerd]

You don't need them until you need them...5 Great Lakes and one "heavy" icebreaker/bouy tender. As bad as its been in the upper lakes thank heaven it wasn't as severe in the lower lakes this season..you could compound the problems really quickly if it had been. I just come from the school of thought that it's better to have the tool and not need it vs needing it and not having it. Five great lakes...thats alot of water and ice to try and maintain. But hats off to both Coast Guards for the hard work and dedication they have put forth against a very daunting task.

[Guest]

Does this really happen much any more? This past winter was a cold one but I don't think we really have them like this much any more. I don't think for a once in a while problem we need another new ice breaker. No one is stopping LCA from building one if they really need one. And if it's that big of an issue why don't they build there ships to better handle ice conditions?

[Guest]

Seems that buying a used anchor handling tug from the GOM would be the quickest way to add an ice breaker to the fleet.

As long as the USCG didn't go over the top with bringing it to full military specs - if it breaks ice and can perform SAR that should be good enough.

[john mcgraw]

At least six freighters upbound are either stuck or delayed in the corridor (some for days)......this despite two icebreakers attempting to assist.
This is a huge loss for the shipping industry, leading to lost time, and delayed deliveries........

By the way the USCG Ice Breaker Storis was formally a commercial vessel, built in American yards, and purchased by the USCG in 2024 and now active out of the USCG Seattle base (its to be shifted to Juneau, when dock modifications are complete). So purchasing private ice breakers for USCG use can be done if the will is there in Congress and USCG Hq. This season proves the necessity to get moving on this issue.

[Guest]

James R. Barker seems to be stuck below Johnson Point this morning, much as the Cort was yesterday.

[Guest]

Why not open the locks based on weather and ice conditions? April 25 would have been more appropriate this year. Companies may need to stockpile more raw materials, but there are plenty of hulls available to make up for a shorter shipping season and at lower cost to taxpayers.

The current situation above and below the Soo locks and St. Mary's River is completely unacceptable, with commercial vessels and even USCG ice breakers stuck in the spring ice.

Below freezing temps at night have complicated the situation. For example the Victory/Maumee was delayed for over a week leaving the Port of Buffalo due to heavy ice conditions that even the USCG Bristol Bay could not solve. The Victory now delayed again up bound for her first cargo load of the season. These delays are very costly to the shipping industry.

The USCG desperately needs another heavy icebreaker on the GL, and they need it soon. Its time to go the USCG Storis route and purchase an icebreaker from private sources.

[Guest]

The Stewart J. Cort has four EMD 645 engines for a total of 14,200 hp. I have no idea if there are mechanical issues or an "overly cautious" captain. We don't know what the issues are, so we can only speculate. Many times in the Spring you can have brash ice that extends down to the bottom of the shipping channel making it very difficult for a vessel to turn because of the ice pressure on the sides.

I'm enclosing the climatological daily data from NWS Alpena for Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. On April 7, 2026 the daily temperature was -16.9 degrees below average.

[Central Ohio Nerd]

I agree with John McGraw completely...and I also think two heavy icebreakers would be in order considering the paper tiger Mackinaw 30 has been on the sidelines way too much this ice season...like in other heavy ice seasons of the past. The only thing the shipping industry has going for them this ice season is that the lower portion of the great lakes has been relatively ice free and or manageable. Hopefully the powers that be take this lesson and learn from it and correct the icebreaker short comings before it hits us at a more crucial time.

[JP Burgoyne]

Again, I agree..... so here's my observations from watching this spring from the turn between Johnson's and Stribling point.
The vessel with the most issues..... The Cort (both trips upbound were not good) and she has casued the most delay of any ships so far.
Watching this vessel try to push thru the icepack is confusing at best. I assume the Cort has twin engines so normally you would see the cooling water being pumped out of the stern on both sides right? Not yesterday, only one side. You would think you would see some significant exhaust from the stacks each time she tries to move forward. Nope next to nothing actually. And what is even more confusing is to watch the water churned astern of the vessel from the props. It seems to start and then stop and start and then stop. It's like she isnt trying very hard. Maybe an overly cautious skipper??
Does anyone know if the Cort has some type of propulsion issue? If she has issues then why would they allow her to proceed into this problem area if she is likely to plug the hole like a cork.
I believe we are past 48 hours now trying to get her from the split below Johnsons to north of Stribling.
I also cant figure out why the joint coast guards would send the smaller Spar to Whitefish Bay and the Risley to Thunder Bay. Seem backwards to me. Katmai Bay and Mackinaw have been tied up in the Soo for more than a day as well.
Just my 2 cents is all............

[Denny]

While I cannot say IF this is related to the Ice Breaking Issues or not, take a look at the amount of ships still in lay up yet and have yet to sail! Three 1,000 footers all from ASC so far have yet to sail this year. The American Century, Integrity and the American Spirit are all still laid up. Grand River Navigation still has a bunch of their ships and tug/barges in lay up. The Kaye E. Barker from Interlake is still in lay up in Toledo. So far, Great Republic remains in lay up in Toledo but they will be out soon and sailing. Algoma still has a bunch of their ships in lay up and CSL also has a few yet to fit out and sail this year. Another interesting fact, so far this Spring there has not been too many salt loads going out on the Algoma ships! The CSL ships have done a few loads but not very many though.

[john mcgraw]

The current situation above and below the Soo locks and St. Mary's River is completely unacceptable, with commercial vessels and even USCG ice breakers stuck in the spring ice.

Below freezing temps at night have complicated the situation. For example the Victory/Maumee was delayed for over a week leaving the Port of Buffalo due to heavy ice conditions that even the USCG Bristol Bay could not solve. The Victory now delayed again up bound for her first cargo load of the season. These delays are very costly to the shipping industry.

The USCG desperately needs another heavy icebreaker on the GL, and they need it soon. Its time to go the USCG Storis route and purchase an icebreaker from private sources.

[Guest]

I'm confused by YouTube. Did the LEE A get stuck in the ice again?

[Mn bob]

The Lee a Tregurtha was stuck in the ice outside of the Duluth harbor and was freed. They had a change of orders from originally loading in Marquette to loading at cn docks in Duluth that’s why they turned around and came back into port. They have since loaded and are heading to Cleveland. I don’t believe they sustained any damage from the ice.