As many as 18 cargo ships are ice bound or at least facing delays on Lake Superior.
The problem paradoxically appears to be caused by a combination of warmer weather and wind.
Free ice has packed floes into the eastern part of the lake.
Icebreakers are working to overcome what is said to be the most severe spring ice seen on the Great Lakes for decades.
The first vessel to voyage through the St Lawrence to the Great Lakes this year, the 39,400-dwt bulk carrier CWB Marquis (built 2014) laden with a cargo of iron ore for Arcelor Mittal’s Hamilton steel plant and then booked to load a grain cargo at Thunder Bay hit ice earlier this month but was able to continue its voyage.
The vessel which operates for the Canadian Wheat Board is managed by Algoma Central and has P&I cover from the Standard Club.
Interlake Steamship’s more than 60 years old 28,400-dwt self discharging bulker Kaye E Barker (built 1952) is reported to have suffered ice damage to it bow. The vessel has protection and indemnity cover from Steamship Mutual.
The St Lawrence Seaway shipping season got off to an early start this year on New Year’s Day when Hapag Lloyd’s 2,4000-teu Valencia Express (built 1996) because the first ocean going vessel to reach Montreal earning the containership’s master, Anuj Kararia, the traditional gold headed cane.
The Great Lakes are an important waterway for grain and steel industry related cargoes.
