Canadian Coast Guard spring icebreaking operations are getting underway on the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway and connecting waterways.
The Canadian and U.S. Coast Guard are working closely in many areas, and residents and visitors are being warned that the annual spring icebreaking will begin around March 23.
Icebreaking operations have been ongoing through the winter to help keep ships moving, and the CCGS Griffon and CCGS Samuel Risley are continuing their work on the Great Lakes.
The Canadian Coast Guard is recommending that anglers, snowmobilers and other recreational users leave the ice immediately if they see an icebreaker in the area, as ice can move or break apart a significant distance from the ships.
In addition, fragmented ice and open water may be difficult to see from a distance or obscured by new fallen snow.
The past winter has produced heavy and persistent ice conditions on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence, making icebreaking operations challenging.
