THUNDER BAY — Icebreaking operations have started at Thunder Bay.
The US Coast Guard cutter Spar arrived in port Tuesday for what port CEO Chris Heikkinen described as "initial" icebreaking and to conduct an assessment of conditions.
Heikkinen said the crew of the Duluth-based cutter reported encountering ice about 22 inches thick in the harbour, which he said is probably around the historical average for mid-March.
The Spar, a 225-foot multi-mission buoy tender, may remain at Thunder Bay for a couple of days, but will likely be replaced later in the month by an icebreaker.
Navigation resumes around March 25 when the locks at Sault Ste. Marie reopen for the season.
