gCaptain by Mike Schuler 12/5/2019
With winter approaching, worsening ice conditions and high water, the Great Lakes region could be facing potential job losses and serious financial implications due to aging icebreaking assets on both sides of the border, according to U.S.-based Lake Carriers’ Association.
The reliability and number of U.S. and Canadian icebreaking assets on the Great Lakes is seen as critical for the flow of cargoes to freshwater ports during the winter and spring commercial shipping seasons. But, unfortunately, the outlook for reliable icebreaking on the Great Lakes is not good, the Lake Carriers’ Association said.
In fact, the number of U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers today is just 60 percent of what they were in the 1980s and 1990s.
The U.S. Coast Guard has only 11 icebreakers in service, down from a peak of 19. During the ice season, as many as five have been sidelined with engine failures and other age-related problems. North of the border, the Canadian Coast Guard has only two icebreakers, down from seven.
An aging fleet is also an issue. Six of the U.S. Great Lakes icebreakers are 40 years-old and the Canadian’s two icebreakers are 50 and 35 years-old.
More:
https://gcaptain.com/serious-concerns-raised-over-inadequate-icebreaking-capabilities-on-great-lakes/
