THUNDER BAY — The Canadian Coast Guard has announced a change in plans for icebreaking in the Thunder Bay area in preparation for the new shipping season.
The U.S. Coast Guard's icebreaking cutter Alder was originally scheduled to arrive from Duluth, Minn. on Tuesday to open up the port.
However, after American authorities said the Alder would be delayed because of another assignment, the CCG was forced to make alternate arrangements.
Isabelle Pelchat, regional superintendent of the icebreaking program for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, says the Samuel Risley will now be dispatched to the Lakehead instead.
The Risley is expected to arrive early next week.
Pelchat told tbnewswatch.com the ship will traverse the Sault Ste. Marie locks between March 21 and March 24, "and proceed directly to Thunder Bay to do the icebreaking around the south harbour entrance, the north entrance, and the Kaministiquia and Mission Rivers."
She said the job of preparing the harbour for navigation will be relatively straightforward compared with other years, because of the lack of ice cover on Lake Superior.
"It's going to be much easier than what we've had before, that's for sure. At this time we have some fast ice in the rivers and in the inner harbour, but it's decaying. It's not as solid as earlier in the winter," Pelchat said.
She added that Lake Superior between the Welcome Islands and Pie Island is also still nine-tenths ice-covered.
Pelchat said that, over the history of icebreaking on Lake Superior, this season will be among the least challenging ones for the coast guard.
According to the Thunder Bay Port Authority, three boats that wintered at Keefer Terminal will move to local grain terminals to pick up cargo as soon as the Risley clears the way.
