Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw Assists Lakers Stuck In Ice

The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, a 240-foot icebreaker homeported in Cheboygan, Mich., works to free the motor vessel James R. Barker in the vicinity of the Johnson Point Turn in the lower St. Marys River, March 26, 2013.
The Mackinaw was breaking brash ice built up on the Barker's starboard side to give the ship's stern room to swing.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony Eichelberger


The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, a 240-foot icebreaker homeported in Cheboygan, Mich., creates a track through the ice for the motor vessel James R. Barker in the vicinity of the Johnson Point Turn in the lower St. Marys River, March 26, 2013.
The Mackinaw and other Coast Guard cutters worked throughout the winter to keep shipping lanes open across the Great Lakes during Operation Taconite and Operation Coal Shovel.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony Eichelberger


The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, a 240-foot icebreaker homeported in Cheboygan, Mich., uses prop wash from its directional azipods to break an ice plug blocking the motor vessel Manitowoc in the vicinity of Whitefish Bay, March 26, 2013.
The Mackinaw along with CGC Alder, a 225-foot buoy tender with ice-breaking capabilities homeported in Duluth, Minn., and the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley worked together to get the Manitowoc moving again.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Brown


The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, a 240-foot icebreaker homeported in Cheboygan, Mich., works joint operations with the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley to free the motor vessel Manitowoc from an ice plug in the vicinity of Whitefish Bay, March 26, 2013.
The Mackinaw, CCGS Samuel Risley and CGC Alder, a 225-foot buoy tender with ice-breaking capabilities homeported in Duluth, Minn., worked together to get the Manitowoc moving again.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Brown