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Boreal Community Media

Video: Ride along on a Coast Guard Ice Breaker

Apr 07, 2019 07:11AM ● By Editor
The CCGS Amundsen is seen heading upbound through the ice and fog on the Welland Canal Friday in Port Colborne. The Amundsen moved on to Lake Erie from Quebec City to take over icebreaking duties offshore from her from sister ship the CCGS Pierre Radisson, which was headed to Georgian Bay. - Dave Johnson, The Welland Tribune

From the St. Catherine's Standard - April 7, 2019

The CCGS icebreaker CCGS Samuel Risley, a medium endurance multi-tasked vessel, which completed an extensive icebreaking operation from Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay to break out the port there.

Canada and the U.S. share icebreaking duties on the Great Lakes, with vessels working wherever needed on either side of the border.

All eligible domestic and foreign vessels that transit an ice zone — there are three listed by the Coast Guard — are subject to transit fees during certain time periods. 

The ice zones include the northeast coast of Newfoundland and Labrador from January 15 to May 15; Lake Ontario from December 21 to 24 and April 1 to 15; and all other waters and estuaries of the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River and Gulf of St. Lawrence from December 21 to April 15.

Those transit fees are payable by a vessel to a maximum of three times per a 30-day period, capped at eight charges per ice season. The 30-day periods are specific to each vessel and can include its first departure from a port located in the ice zone during the ice season; its first entry during the ice season into an ice zone while en route to a Canadian port located in an ice zone; but the fees can't commence earlier than December 21 of each ice season.

Watch the Canadian Coast Guard Ice Breaking Video Here