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US Coast Guard to Rescue Canadian Cargo Ship Trapped in Ice on Lake Erie
A Canadian cargo ship with 17 crew members became trapped in ice on Lake Erie while leaving Buffalo. The Coast Guard arrived Friday with icebreaking equipment to help free the vessel.
The 663-foot-long Manitoulin cargo ship had delivered a wheat shipment and was heading back to Sarnia, Ontario, on Wednesday when it got stuck in rapidly forming ice due to freezing temperatures near Buffalo’s shoreline. By Thursday, the ship remained surrounded by thick ice and snow, creating a striking scene on the lake.
“It’s been a while since we’ve had a harsh winter. Now that we’re experiencing one, people are surprised and asking, ‘What’s happening?’” said Paul Angelillo, a search and rescue expert with the Buffalo Coast Guard.
He explained that freighters in the Great Lakes usually manage to navigate winter ice but sometimes encounter patches that are too dense to pass through.
Cargo ship undamaged
According to the Coast Guard, the Manitoulin cargo ship wasn’t damaged, and the crew and captain were safe. By Friday afternoon, a Coast Guard cutter began breaking up the ice around the ship.
When Lake Erie freezes in winter, it creates big challenges for shipping. As one of the shallowest Great Lakes, it freezes faster and more completely than others, often halting vessel traffic entirely.
This is a serious issue for industries relying on goods like coal, iron ore, and grain normally transported by freighters. Ice can make routes impassable, and even icebreakers struggle to clear paths efficiently.
Shipping delays caused by the freeze can disrupt supply chains and cost companies millions. While shipping largely stops during peak winter months, some ports and industries plan their schedules carefully to avoid severe disruptions.
The Coast Guard’s icebreaking efforts help maintain limited movement in critical areas, but Lake Erie’s freezing impacts the region’s economy every year.
