ICEBREAKERS OF THE GREAT LAKES

Annually 160 million tons of cargo are shipped through the Great Lakes region of the US, which encompasses Lake Eerie, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Lake Ontario on the Northern border of the United States. In the winter time, the Great Lakes freeze, with ice on the water sometimes being 2-3 feet thick and covering the shipping lanes freighters use to transport their cargo across the region.

To clear these important shipping lanes the United States utilized specialized boats called Ice Breakers used by the United States Coast Guard. These ships operate throughout the late fall into spring working night and day to clear shipping lanes and come to the aid of any boats stuck in the thick ice of the Great Lakes.

The flag is raised as the US Coast Guard Cutter ‘Katmai Bay’ departs its overnight mooring and resumes operations on Lake Huron during Ice Breaking operations on March 13, 2023.

Captain Mike Overstreet of the US Coast Guard Cutter Katmai Bay scans the horizon of the St. Mary's River for ice sheets from the bridge of his vessel, USCGC Katmai Bay on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. The Katmai Bay is one of the ships in the US Coast Guard District 9 that takes on ice breaking operations throughout the winter in the Great Lakes. Throughout the winter 8.8 million tons of cargo worth $329 Million dollars passes through the St. Mary's River in the Great Lakes region, and the passage of cargo ships depends on ice cutting operations of the District 9 Ice Breakers, such as the Katmai Bay, to keep shipping lanes clear of ice and safe for passage.

Crew members of the US Coast Guard Cutter Katmai Bay throw out lines and prepare to moor at Lime Island in near Lake Huron following a day of operations cutting ice in the St. Mary's River on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. The Katmai Bay is one of the ships in the US Coast Guard District 9 that takes on ice breaking operations throughout the winter in the Great Lakes. Throughout the winter 8.8 million tons of cargo worth $329 Million dollars passes through the St. Mary's River in the Great Lakes region, and the passage of cargo ships depends on ice cutting operations of the District 9 Ice Breakers, such as the Katmai Bay, to keep shipping lanes clear off ice and safe for passage.

Engineers perform maintenance checks on the engine of the US Coast Guard Cutter 'Katmai Bay' after mooring at Lime Island near Lake Huron following a day of operations cutting ice in the St. Mary's River on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. The Katmai Bay is one of the ships in the US Coast Guard District 9 that takes on ice breaking operations throughout the winter in the Great Lakes. Throughout the winter 8.8 million tons of cargo worth $329 Million dollars passes through the St. Mary's River in the Great Lakes region, and the passage of cargo ships depends on ice cutting operations of the District 9 Ice Breakers, such as the Katmai Bay, to keep shipping lanes clear off ice and safe for passage.

Navigational equipment on the bridge of the US Coast Guard Cutter 'Katmai Bay' help guide the vessel and its crew through ice laden waters in the St. Mary's River on Monday, March 13, 2023 near Lake Huron on an operation to clear a frozen section of the St. Mary's river. The Katmai Bay is one of the ships in the US Coast Guard District 9 that takes on ice breaking operations throughout the winter in the Great Lakes region. Throughout the winter 8.8 million tons of cargo worth $329 Million dollars passes through the St. Mary's River in the Great Lakes region, and the passage of cargo ships depends on ice cutting operations of the District 9 Ice Breakers, such as the Katmai Bay, to keep shipping lanes clear of ice and safe for passage. Raw materials such as iron ore, coal, and grain, are shipped through the Great Lakes region which accounts for almost 40 percent of the total cross-border trade between the U.S. and Canada.

The US Coast Guard Cutter 'Morro Bay' participates in Ice Breaking operations alongside USCGC 'Katmai Bay' to clear a Frozen section of the St. Mary's river on Monday, March 13, 2023 near Lake Huron.

Seaman Dayon Caron Marcoos ties on the Union Jack to the back of the US Coast Guard Cutter 'Katmai Bay' after mooring at Lime Island following ice-breaking operations on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, near Lake Huron as the USCGC Morro Bay, another Ice Breaker, comes into moor on the island as well.

Executive Officer Bryant Giorgi speaks to crew members of the United States Coast Guard Cutter Katmai Bay following a day of operations cutting ice in the St. Mary's River on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. The Katmai Bay is one of the ships in the US Coast Guard District 9 that takes on ice breaking operations throughout the winter in the Great Lakes. Throughout the winter 8.8 million tons of cargo worth $329 Million dollars passes through the St. Mary's River in the Great Lakes region, and the passage of cargo ships depends on ice cutting operations of the District 9 Ice Breakers, such as the Katmai Bay, to keep shipping lanes clear off ice and safe for passage.

Petty Officer Juan Perdomo works out in the hull of the US Coast Guard Cutter 'Katmai Bay' while it is moored at Lime Island in the St. Mary's River following Ice Breaking operations on Monday, March 13, 2023. Coast Guard Ice Breaking crews typically are out on operations for 3 days, then in at port for 1 1/2 days during the winter as they work to break up ice in the shipping lanes of the great lakes region.

Seaman (SN) Tyler Hutchins helps SN Dayan R Caron Marcus study for a test about Damage Control while on an Ice Breaking operation in the St. Mary's River on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter 'Katmai Bay;. The Katmai Bay is one of the ships in the US Coast Guard District 9 that takes on ice breaking operations throughout the winter in the Great Lakes. Throughout the winter 8.8 million tons of cargo worth $329 Million dollars passes through the St. Mary's River in the Great Lakes region, and the passage of cargo ships depends on ice cutting operations of the District 9 Ice Breakers, such as the Katmai Bay, to keep shipping lanes clear off ice and safe for passage.

Engineer's Mate (EMC) Dawson Harris leads a blindfolded Seaman (SN) David Sherman through an evacuation drill during a lull in Ice Breaking operations aboard US Coast Guard Cutter 'Katmai Bay' to clear a Frozen section of the St. Mary's river on Monday, March 13, 2023 near Lake Huron. The Katmai Bay is one of the ships in the US Coast Guard District 9 that takes on ice breaking operations throughout the winter in the Great Lakes. Throughout the winter 8.8 million tons of cargo worth $329 Million dollars passes through the St. Mary's River in the Great Lakes region, and the passage of cargo ships depends on ice cutting operations of the District 9 Ice Breakers, such as the Katmai Bay, to keep shipping lanes clear of ice and safe for passage. Raw materials such as iron ore, coal, and grain, are shipped through the Great Lakes region which accounts for almost 40 percent of the total cross-border trade between the U.S. and Canada.

Following a long day of work breaking ice in the St. Mary's River crews of the US Coast Guard Cutters 'Katmai Bay' Morro Bay' and 'Biscayne Bay' have a bonfire at Lime Island on Monday, March 15, 2023 near Lake Huron. From December until as late as May, the US Coast Guard District 9 takes on ice breaking operations throughout the winter in the Great Lakes region to allow freighter ships to pass through the icey waters. Throughout the winter 8.8 million tons of cargo worth $329 Million dollars passes through the St. Mary's River in the Great Lakes region, and the passage of cargo ships depends on ice cutting operations of the District 9 Ice Breakers, such as the Katmai Bay, to keep shipping lanes clear of ice and safe for passage. Raw materials such as iron ore, coal, and grain, are shipped through the Great Lakes region which accounts for almost 40 percent of the total cross-border trade between the U.S. and Canada.

Crews from the US Coast Guard re-kindle a bonfire while moored on Lime Island in the St. Mary’s River.

Boatswain's Mate Bruce Carter breaks ice on the forward deck of US Coast Guard Cutter 'Katmai Bay' during an operation to clear a Frozen section of the St. Mary's river on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 near Lake Huron.