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Canadian Freighter Stuck in Ice on Lake Erie
A Canadian freighter, the Manitoulin, with 17 crew members onboard, remains trapped in ice on Lake Erie near Buffalo, New York. According to Omar Faba from the U.S. Coast Guard, the vessel has been stuck since Wednesday.
Efforts to free the ship have shown some “progress,” but operations were halted on Thursday evening. Faba indicated to CBC News that teams plan to resume their efforts on Friday, with the hope of freeing the vessel.
Measuring 202 meters in length, the Manitoulin was transporting wheat and was on its way back to Sarnia, Ontario, when it became ensnared in thick ice that formed quickly amidst sub-zero temperatures near the Buffalo shoreline.
This scenario paints a dramatic picture on the frozen lake, with the ship isolated by a vast expanse of ice and snow.
Paul Angelillo, a search and rescue specialist with the Coast Guard in Buffalo, noted, “We just haven’t had a bad winter in quite a while. So now that we’ve had one and people haven’t seen this for a bit, they’re like ‘what’s going on?'” This comment underscores the unusual winter weather patterns impacting the region.
Typically, Great Lakes freighters can navigate through surface ice during winter months. However, there are occasions when the ice becomes too dense or robust for these vessels to maneuver effectively. Angelillo emphasized this point, highlighting the challenges faced by the Manitoulin.
Fortunately, the Coast Guard has confirmed that there has been no damage to the Manitoulin, and both the captain and crew are reported to be safe.
Source
www.cbc.ca