Great Lakes ice cover has peaked, here’s how it measured up
The ice cover on the Great Lakes has reached its peak coverage for the winter. You might be a little surprised at how much ice we had on the Great Lakes. All of the Great Lakes spent some time with more ice than the long-term average for individual dates.
Lake Superior peaked around 15 percent higher than the typical high-ice amount. Lake Superior also spent the least amount of time with ice coverage more than the normal curve. Only about eight days had ice cover above average. At Lake Superior’s peak ice, it was 64.2 percent covered on March 3. You’ll also notice the peak ice was right on schedule with historical norms.
Read more and view the data at this M Live link: https://www.mlive.com/weather/2022/03/great-lakes-ice-cover-has-peaked-heres-how-it-measured-up.html?utm_campaign=aanews_sf&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR0iTvNuKGp0jOjeXtjDBi1amauj0rUDmMz47W-tSG5Ap2yPnLOdxnUVovM
Ottawa announces COVID-19 rules for return of cruise ships to Canadian ports
Halifax, NS – Strict COVID-19 measures will be enforced when cruise ships return to Canada’s ports next month after a nearly two-year hiatus, federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced on Monday.
Ottawa lifted its pandemic-induced prohibition on cruise ships in Canadian waters on Nov. 1, on condition that operators fully comply with public health requirements. “The industry will have to follow a robust protocol,” Alghabra told reporters in Halifax.
Under a framework developed with federal, local and provincial public health agencies, the United States government and the cruise industry, all cruise ship employees and passengers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to be allowed into Canada, Alghabra said.
Passengers, he added, will need to take a COVID-19 molecular test within 72 hours before they board or take an antigen test within one day of boarding. They will also need a negative molecular test result within 72 hours before their return to Canada or an antigen test result within one day of their arrival, he said.
Cruise ship operators will be required to inspect proof of vaccination and monitor and report test results, Alghabra said, adding that no passenger will be allowed off a cruise ship unless they meet the testing and vaccine requirements.
The cruise ship industry is worth about $4 billion annually to the Canadian economy and is directly and indirectly responsible for about 30,000 jobs in the domestic tourism sector, the federal government says.
Allan Gray, president and CEO of the Port of Halifax, said Monday’s announcement gives a clear signal to ports and to tourism operators that ships are returning in a safe manner. Gray said that while the revival of Canada’s cruise ship industry is certainly welcomed, the biggest economic benefit from the sector goes toward tourism operators in the cities in which passengers debark.
“Cruises in most cases (are) never a large revenue earner for a port … it’s about the economic benefit that goes into the community and it’s about the support industries,” he said.
Gray said he expects the 2022 season, which runs from April to November, will help re-establish an industry that is expected to rebound vigorously in the years to come. He said Halifax is scheduled to see 152 cruise ships this season. “The uncertain part is the actual numbers (of passengers) on board,” Gray said. “It’s been varying up and down … so it’s difficult for us at this point to get firm numbers.”
Alghabra, meanwhile, announced $7 million in federal funding to help build a new $15-million marine container examination facility within the Port of Halifax. The remaining $8 million will come from the port, he said.
The aim is to reduce inspection turnaround times along with container congestion at the port, as well as truck traffic in downtown Halifax. Gray said plans are for the new facility to be in use by sometime next year.
Annual Freighter Frenzy tournament begins
Sault Ste. Marie, MI – In preparation of the seasonal opening of the Soo Locks on March 25, Sault locals are participating in a tournament to decide the most popular shipping freighter on the Great Lakes.
The tournament begins March 8 with a series of Twitter polls that last for 48 hours each. The winners of each poll will move on in the March Madness style bracket until the final poll ends on April 2, which will see one ship remaining as the winner.
Thirty-two ships from America, Canada and other countries of origin are participating in the 16 matchups where voters will be given facts about the history of and fun facts for each ship.
“Each ship has its own story, maybe you know the crew or where the ship was made or where it goes for destinations,” said Nick Nolan, digital media specialist for the Sault Ste. Marie Convention and Visitors Bureau. “For one reason or another, these ships resonate with people.”
The tournament began in 2020 as a way to make up for the lack of March Madness betting during the non-existent basketball season due to COVID-19. Since then, the Freighter Frenzy has become a popular pastime and regularly receives 100 or more votes on each poll from fans of the ships.
The freighter The Wilfred Sykes, which won the first two Freighter Frenzy events, will also be participating again this year competing against many returning freighters but also new competition.
The Mandarin from Cyprus and Happy River from the Netherlands will both be making their first appearances in the tournament this year. This matchup also marks the first competition between two 1,000 foot ships against each other in the tournament.
“Follow along on our Twitter and have a good time and we like to banter back and forth with our followers,” said Nolan. “We just look forward to having a great tournament.”
Last year, participation from locals was huge with over 100 votes for each poll and over 5,000 votes in the overall competition. This year, the visitors bureau expects even more votes for each poll.
The Sault News. Find more information at the visitors bureau’s website: https://www.saultstemarie.com/freighter-frenzy-3-thrice-the-frenzy/
