Freighter Stuck in Lake Erie Ice, Coast Guard Resumes Rescue Efforts

According to the Canadian Coast Guard, a freighter named Manitoulin, with 17 crew members on board, became stuck in the ice on Lake Erie while departing from Buffalo. The vessel was attempting to head back to Sarnia, Ontario, after dropping off a load of wheat when it encountered rapidly forming ice due to sub-zero temperatures off the Buffalo shoreline.

Efforts to Free the Vessel

The Coast Guard promptly responded to the situation with icebreaking equipment on Thursday in an attempt to free the stranded ship. The Manitoulin, measuring 663 feet, remained stuck in the ice, creating a striking sight on the lake, surrounded by ice and snow.

U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Bridgette Baldwin informed CBS affiliate WIVB-TV that the ice on Lake Erie was thicker than usual, making it difficult for local ice breakers and Coast Guard vessels to navigate the area. Paul Angelillo, a search and rescue specialist with the Coast Guard in Buffalo, noted that the severity of the winter season caught many off guard, as they had not experienced such conditions in quite some time.

Normal Navigation Challenges

Typically, Great Lakes freighters can maneuver through surface ice during winter, but there are occasions when they encounter ice that is too dense or thick to break through. Fortunately, the Manitoulin did not sustain any damage, and all crew members were reported safe. By Thursday afternoon, a Coast Guard cutter commenced breaking up the ice surrounding the vessel.

However, the efforts to free the ship had to be paused for the night and were scheduled to resume the following morning, as per the Coast Guard's announcement.

Related Ice Rescue

In a related incident, a U.S. Coast Guard crew successfully rescued two individuals from an ice floe in Saginaw Bay, Michigan, a day prior. The ice rescue team managed to reach both individuals and safely return them to shore, without any reported injuries.