The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich.) — The two vessels beswt by ice in the St. Marys River were freed Thursday afternoon.
The Coast Guard cutter Biscayne Bay freed the motor vessel Walter J. McCarthy from the ice in the upbound Middle Neebish Channel of the St. Marys River at approximately 2 p.m. The Canadian Coast Guard ship Samuel Risley freed the motor vessel Edgar B. Speer from the ice near Sawmill Point in the downbound channel of the St. Marys River at approximately 3 p.m.
Walter J. McCarthy became stuck in the ice late Wednesday evening. Edgar B. Speer became stuck in the ice at approximately 4 a.m. Thursday morning.
Twelve vessels were affected by the restriction of the waterway posed by the vessels stuck in the ice.
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(SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich.) — The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Biscayne Bay crew is working Thursday to free the motor vessel Walter J. McCarthy from the ice in the upbound Middle Neebish Channel of the St. Marys River.
After freeing Walter J. McCarthy, Biscayne Bay will then break out the motor vessel Edgar B. Speer from the ice near Sawmill Point in the downbound channel of the St. Marys River.
The Canadian Coast Guard ship Samuel Risley is scheduled to arrive on scene at noon and will assist Biscayne Bay with icebreaking operations.
Since the two vessels are currently stuck in the ice, upbound and downbound transits are currently restricted in the St. Marys River.
There are five vessels waiting to proceed downbound and four vessels waiting to proceed upbound in the river.
