Free at last! Manitoulin under own power heading |away from Buffalo, following icebreaking vessels

Buffalo, N.Y- Free at last. The 663-foot lake freighter Manitoulin was freed from the growing Lake Erie ice field Saturday after four U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard vessels led the way in breaking the ice.

“The Manitoulin is underway,” was the marine VHF radio transmission heard shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday, announcing the end of a days-long drama.

Hundreds of onlookers had gathered along the Buffalo waterfront Saturday to witness the icebreaking operation before the breakthrough occurred and the vessel was underway, moving at approximately 7 knots per hour.

She was freed by the combined efforts of the U.S. and Canadian coast guards. U.S. Coast Guard cutters Bristol Bay (WTGB 102) had worked since Thursday. U.S. Coast Guard cutter Neah Bay (WTGB 105), a 140-foot ice-breaking tug homeported in Cleveland, also arrived to assist at 9 a.m. Saturday. A helicopter from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Detroit conducted overflights to monitor the situation. The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley arrived from Windsor, ON. U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw (WLBB 30), a 240-foot heavy icebreaker from Cheboygan, Michigan, was also enroute. The Great Lakes Towing tug Oklahoma made a run out to the Manitoulin with food.

The Manitoulin became stuck Wednesday upon leaving Buffalo after dropping a load of grain. Ever since, an extensive icebreaking operation has been unfolding.

There are 17 crewmembers aboard the vessel and there was never any concern for their safety or for a lack of supplies.

WBEN