Frozen waters in the Great Lakes have slowed commercial traffic across the region this winter, as the U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard have struggled to maintain their typical level of icebreaking efforts across several key waterways.

According to a January 2 release from the Lake Carriers' Association (LCA), the quick onset of wintery conditions in the Midwest has forced the USCG and the CCG to prioritize the use of their icebreaker ships for the removal of buoys and floating navigational equipment, which has delayed critical icebreaking work needed to keep shipping lanes open.

The LCA reports that icy waters are now impacting traffic from Duluth, Minnesota, to the western basin of Lake Erie, and have even forced a closure of the vital passageway that connects Lake Superior to the lower lakes. That's delayed the movement of bulk commodities like iron ore, steel, coal and grain, which are typically moved in large volumes through the Great Lakes during the winter navigation season.

"This is a major national security problem if steel mills in the U.S. cannot have a reliable supply chain during the winter," said LCA president Jim Weakley. "The USCG and CCG claim that icebreaking is a shared mission, yet we haven’t seen a Canadian icebreaker operating on the Great Lakes yet this season."

The CCG reportedly has two icebreakers working on removing floating navigational aids in the St. Lawrence Seaway near Montreal, Quebec, while the USCG's only heavy icebreaker, the Mackinaw, has been similarly tasked with equipment removal. The CCG has a third icebreaker ship docked in Sarnia, Ontario that has been limited by engineering issues.

In a written statement to SupplyChainBrain, the USCG said that its icebreaking assets are deployed based on operational priorities, weather conditions, and the needs of the maritime community. 

"The U.S. Coast Guard is continually assessing environmental conditions and is responsive to changes," said USCG spokesperson Lt. Phillip Gurtler. "Coast Guard Cutters have been fully engaged this entire ice season, and this weekend alone have provided direct assistance to six vessels impacted by ice along their voyage routes."

SupplyChainBrain is awaiting a response from CCG regarding ongoing efforts to clear ice from the Great Lakes.