Old Mackinaw Questions

[tugboat]

I would say at this point that would be impossible. When she was transferred over to the museum organization GSA required that she be largely unaltered for five years with the understanding that she might be recalled. That was in 2006 so that window has closed.

Aside from the formal agreement, even then after the first year or two it would be extremely unlikely that she would or could be recalled. She was decommissioned largely because of the amount of resources, time and work it took to keep her mission ready. This was deemed too much and not cost effective back when a full time professional crew was doing constant maintenance. Needless to say, she has not had this sort of technical maintenance in the last 7 years. (this is not to say she is not being maintained and well cared for - but operational as an icebreaker and operational as a museum are not the same thing).

One way or another, we well get through this season with the ice breakers available, because "one of these days, this snows gonna melt . . . "

Its far from impossible, it would be very easy. Mackinaw could be very easily classed as a tug and crewed up with a quarter of the CG crew and brought out in that way to break ice at any time. If it had been turned over to commercial interests in the first place it would have been re-powered by now and been a lot simpler and more economical to run. Inquiries had been made by government agencies for just such a scenario, but when the CG is studying the CG and figuring out which way to go the results of the study are pretty well guaranteed to come out one way.

[Paul A]

The five year agreement has been standard for all of the decommissioned Coast Guard vessels. The Sundew operates privately under her own power to this day beyond the five year reserve agreement.

[mhillm]

I would say at this point that would be impossible. When she was transferred over to the museum organization GSA required that she be largely unaltered for five years with the understanding that she might be recalled. That was in 2006 so that window has closed.

Aside from the formal agreement, even then after the first year or two it would be extremely unlikely that she would or could be recalled. She was decommissioned largely because of the amount of resources, time and work it took to keep her mission ready. This was deemed too much and not cost effective back when a full time professional crew was doing constant maintenance. Needless to say, she has not had this sort of technical maintenance in the last 7 years. (this is not to say she is not being maintained and well cared for - but operational as an icebreaker and operational as a museum are not the same thing).

One way or another, we well get through this season with the ice breakers available, because "one of these days, this snows gonna melt . . . "

[Denny]

With the harsh winter across the Great Lakes area this winter and some of the worst ice seen in 20 years or more on the lakes, I got to thinking about a few questions. I know this may sound silly but with the ice conditions the way that they are, could the USCG put the Old Mackinaw back to work for any type of icebreaking this year or in case they need an extra breaker? Granted I know they turned her into a museum but, was just wondering if they needed an extra breaker could the Old Mack be reactivated? She was also once the most powerful breaker on the lakes at 10,000 HP and I don't think there is a breaker on the lakes that is even close to that now. At least if they had a CG vessel down for maintenance or repairs, maybe they could use the Old Mackinaw in its place. Just my thoughts only here on this subject. Thank You.