Lake Erie is almost completely covered with ice by the third week of January, but the entrance light on the west pier had already been transformed into an ice sculpture from the freezing spray of the early winter storms.
Tuesday 25 January 2011
Ice, Ice, Baby
Several trips this month have taken us into the piers of Cleveland Harbour conducting ice escort duties through Lake Erie.
Lake Erie is almost completely covered with ice by the third week of January, but the entrance light on the west pier had already been transformed into an ice sculpture from the freezing spray of the early winter storms.
Lake Erie is almost completely covered with ice by the third week of January, but the entrance light on the west pier had already been transformed into an ice sculpture from the freezing spray of the early winter storms.
Tuesday 11 January 2011
Working behind the scenes
When the ice starts covering the Lakes, most people imagine that boats and ships are layed up for the winter period. While the majority of ships eventually go to berth to carryout needed repairs and maintenance before the start of the next season, many ships still ply the navigable waters carrying ore for the steel plants, coal for the generating plants, petroleum products for the refineries and salt for the icy roads in cities around the region.
The Coast Guard's icebreakers on both sides of the border help these ships make it safely through the ice-covered lakes and shipping channels when the ice becomes too difficult for them to move on their own. The commercial vessels are moving day and night, which calls for our icebreakers to do the same when conditions permit. In the below picture, a tanker is heading across the Western Basin of Lake Erie towards the Detroit River being escorted by a US breaker. Meanwhile we wait in the ice for a downbound ship to arrive around midnight for an escort that will last five hours till clear of the ice east of Pelee Island.
It is difficult working through the night as you fight fatigue from your natural body rhythm, but it is just as difficult on an icebreaker for the off-watch crew to try and sleep when the ship is smashing through the ice at full speed. Imagine trying to sleep on a train right behind the locomotive on the worst rail line ever built and you will have some idea of the noise and vibration on an icebreaker as it collides with thick pans of ice.
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| A Laker turns at Light 30 into a snowy Lake St. Clair |
The Coast Guard's icebreakers on both sides of the border help these ships make it safely through the ice-covered lakes and shipping channels when the ice becomes too difficult for them to move on their own. The commercial vessels are moving day and night, which calls for our icebreakers to do the same when conditions permit. In the below picture, a tanker is heading across the Western Basin of Lake Erie towards the Detroit River being escorted by a US breaker. Meanwhile we wait in the ice for a downbound ship to arrive around midnight for an escort that will last five hours till clear of the ice east of Pelee Island.
It is difficult working through the night as you fight fatigue from your natural body rhythm, but it is just as difficult on an icebreaker for the off-watch crew to try and sleep when the ship is smashing through the ice at full speed. Imagine trying to sleep on a train right behind the locomotive on the worst rail line ever built and you will have some idea of the noise and vibration on an icebreaker as it collides with thick pans of ice.
Monday 3 January 2011
Multi-modal commuting
One of the great advantages of working on a ship is that I only have to commute to work once a month. However, since you can live wherever you want on your off time-in my case Montreal, that commute can be a long one. Heading back to work this week will involve a metro ride to the Central Station, a Via Train to Brockville, a walk to a nearby hotel and then an eight hour bus ride the next morning to the ship in Windsor.
Then it is right to work for another 28 days.
The return to work can be a somber time, being away from family and friends for a month but this year I was fortunate to be off for Christmas and New Year's. I think the entire crew will be reasonably content to return to work and pay off some bills while the crew going home will be somewhat down about arriving home just as the holidays are ending.
But then it will be our turn to work the holidays next year. Yin and Yang
Then it is right to work for another 28 days.
The return to work can be a somber time, being away from family and friends for a month but this year I was fortunate to be off for Christmas and New Year's. I think the entire crew will be reasonably content to return to work and pay off some bills while the crew going home will be somewhat down about arriving home just as the holidays are ending.
But then it will be our turn to work the holidays next year. Yin and Yang
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