Icebreaking Operations Whitefish Bay Winter 2015

` 2 Great Lakes geography review Plan A: USCG lead by Mackinaw - in SSM & Whitefish Risley in St. Clair River, Detroit River & Western Basin Griffon to head down upon opening of seaway – upper St. Lawrence River Radisson to transit up under special permission from Seaway - Lake Erie. MLB - L St Francis. 2

RADARSAT mosaic February 2015 to show the overall coverage of ice in the system Ice conditions winter 2014/15: 2nd worse winter for ice cover in the past 35 years – 2nd only to the previous year. Late thaw again SOO locks open March 25 6

6 Saturday March 28 Mackinaw port Pod leaks. = plan B Comparison between Risley and Mackinaw. Mackinaw Azipods 6

7 Plan B: Risley reassigned to Whitefish Bay without delay, Griffon to cover Erie until the seaway opens April 2 RAD to start up seaway Sun Mar 29 under special permission and will cover all of Lake Erie until MLB MLB to come up once Griffon arrives in Seaway USCG will manage the Detroit & St. Clair Rivers with Hollyhock (damaged) and 2 140. 7

3 Detail of Whitefish Bay showing: - Shore Details – SSM, Whitefish Point, Can/US border - Shoals - Shipping routes 3

Radarsat shot from March 25 showing ice moving off the south shore as can typically be expected at breakup. 4

Risley arrived in Whitefish Bay Sunday March 29 and found typical heavy ice year conditions with ridging and rafting around Whitefish point to approx 6 - 8ft in height. 8

Phillip R Clarke (US carrier) and Algoma Olympic (Canadian) escorted up into Lake Superior March 30 to April 2 mild with S winds, ice decaying, looking good. 8

Upbound and Downbound tracks were established through Whitefish Bay. 8

8 April 3 winds W’ly 30+ knots, temperatures -15°C RADARSAT shot from April 5 showing how the ice has been packed into South eastern Lake Superior around Whitefish Point. Ice conditions described as extreme with pieces of ice being turned over the size of pick-up trucks. Plan C Radisson to reposition to Whitefish Bay as soon possible. April 6 MLB arrives Port Colborne (Lake Erie) RAD stops in Windsor for water and Sarnia for fuel. April 9 RAD in Whitefish Bay. In the mean time Risley has been pounding her way through Severe conditions, one day making only 10 miles backing and ramming. 8

Radarsat shot April 5 2015 showing ice has moved back in and packed up around Whitefish Point.

8 RADARSAT showing convoy westbound around ice flows. RIS managed to break through and then the wind helped and the backlog of shipping was cleared as RAD arrived. 8

Comparison graph for the week of April 9, 1980 – 2015 showing the total ice cover on the Great Lakes. 8

By April 8, there was a back up of 18 vessels waiting to get into Lake Superior

8 Screen shot of Risley’s AIS showing line-up of shipping. Taken after RAD had joined the effort. 8

8 USCG assets: Mackinaw – limited use due to port Azipod leaks 3 140ft icebreaking tugs Alder 8

MLB joined the effort in Whitefish Bay April 15 to 19 then worked in North Channel RAD departed the area April 20 RIS went to T Bay April 16 to Apr 23 then returned to Whitefish Bay until April 27 and left the escort duties to the USCG. Ice was no longer a problem by April 30. 8

Questions?? A quick summary to give an idea what kind of planning goes into the winter operations and how we have to adapt throughout the winter to respond to ice conditions and vessel needs. 8