Coast Guard Detroit: Great Lakes icebreaking season is over Operation Coal Shovel concludes after 900 hours of service
USGC assisting in Lake Erie on Jan. 26, 2025. (WDIV)
DETROIT – The Coast Guard has announced that the Great Lakes’ icebreaking season has officially ended .
Operation Coal Shovel began on Jan. 6 and officially concluded Monday, April 14, due to a lack of ice.
The operation covered the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway.
141 vessels contributed more than 900 hours of icebreaking assistance and preventative support.
Although most ice has melted, some lingering ice remains, posing potential hazards to recreational vessels. Additionally, rising water temperatures do not eliminate the risk of hypothermia, which can occur within minutes.
Recreational users are advised to assess safety and risk factors carefully before venturing onto the water.
Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.
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Dane Kelly is an Oreo enthusiast and producer who has spent the last seven years covering Michigan news and stories.
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