Cleveland – The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw visited Western Lake Superior to break ice in preparation for the upcoming shipping season.
The Mackinaw (WLBB-30) is the only U.S. heavy ice breaking resource assigned to the Great Lakes and in addition to heavy icebreaking other missions of the crew include servicing buoys, search and rescue, law enforcement, and the ability to deploy an oil skimming system to respond to oil spill situations.
The 240-foot Icebreaker is homeported in Cheboygan, Michigan.
Lights from the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, a 240-foot Icebreaker homeported in Cheboygan, Mich., illuminate the ice pack off the fantail of the cutter as the cutter spends a night in Western Lake Superior off Duluth, Minn., March 16, 2013. U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of the USCGC Mackinaw
The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw passes through the Poe Lock, one of five locks that make up the Soo Locks in Northern Michigan, March 14, 2013. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw was the first ship through the Poe Lock since it closed for annual maintenance in January. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Coast Guard Academy Cadet Jonathan Young
The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, a 240-foot Icebreaker homeported in Cheboygan, Mich., breaks through ice that is 16-20 inches thick about five miles off the Duluth shoreline, March 16, 2013. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Nathan Poppink
The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw approaches the Duluth Arial Lift Bridge near Duluth, Minn., just after sunrise, March 17, 2013. CGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30) was in the area to break ice in preparation for the start of shipping season. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Nathan Poppink
