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.
But he noted there's a lot more ice than last year.
"That was certainly the least ice I've seen during my time in the industry, in our harbour. It was almost a non-existing icebreaking season last year, so this year we're certainly back to more of a normal thickness."
The Spar didn't spend a long time in Thunder Bay.
The 225-foot multi-mission buoy tender left Wednesday morning for Whitefish Bay at the eastern end of Lake Superior, but will likely be replaced at Thunder Bay later in the month by an icebreaker.
Navigation resumes around March 25 when the locks at Sault Ste. Marie reopen for the season.
NOTE: This story was updated Wednesday morning after the Spar left for the eastern end of Lake Superior
