“The nation’s economy depends on reliable and predictable icebreaking on the Great Lakes,” writes Mike Schuler.

Compounding the problem of recurring severe ice conditions and record high water levels (emphasis added) across the Great Lakes and connecting channels is that “the number of U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers today is just 60 percent of what they were in the 1980s and 1990s.”

“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.

“Last year, when cargoes carried on U.S. Great Lakes ships were delayed or cancelled because of inadequate icebreaking, 5,000 jobs were lost and the economy took a $1 billion hit,” said Jim Weakley, President of Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA).”

See all of this insightful article Mike Schuler

https://gcaptain.com/serious-concerns-raised-over-inadequate-icebreaking-capabilities-on-great-lakes/

Thanks to Don Villeneuve for this link