The Canadian Coast Guard's (CCG) central region icebreaking superintendent says ice conditions this winter are within the normal range seen over the last three decades.
Guillaume Paradis spoke with Sarnia News Today from his base in Quebec on Tuesday.
"The percentage of ice coverage is about 34 per cent for all of the Great Lakes and the average for the last 30 years is 30 per cent," Paradis said.
Paradis said vessels have had no problems navigating local waterways, including the St. Clair River.
"The area between Lake Huron and western Lake Erie is completely covered with ice, but we have two ice breakers there and commercial [ship] traffic is flowing normally there. There is no issue, but we are used to those kinds of ice conditions," he said.
Paradis said this year's ice conditions are similar to what was experienced in 2022, when ice coverage was almost 24 per cent at this time of year.
He said an ice bridge has formed at the entrance to the St. Clair River.
"When we have that kind of situation and we have ships needing to pass through, we ask them to reduce their speed at the minimum to keep moving, but to keep this ice bridge because we want this ice bridge to stay there as long as we can because it blocks the flow of ice to the St. Clair systems," Paradis said.
This ice bridge usually forms in February when there is a build up of ice at the river entrance.
It's monitored daily, because when the bridge breaks, the ice flows into the river, increasing the risk of ice jams and flooding.
The Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Samuel Risley and the CCGS Griffon are currently conducting ice breaking operations with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in the St. Clair River corridor.
The Samuel Risley has a combined officer and crew complement of 27, while the Griffon has a combined officer and crew complement of 26. The crews work in shifts so the vessels can remain operational 24 hours a day and be deployed when needed.
Paradis said the CCG helicopter also regularly scans areas of interest, but doesn't fly every day.
"We have a helicopter based in Parry Sound and when we need to have eyes on the scene before sending an ice breaker to check the ice condition if it's needed, we send the chopper to have a visual on the ice condition," he said.
Paradis said the USCG also has an air unit that regularly conducts ice reconnaissance flights and coordinates with CCG as needed.
He said safety must be top of mind when you're around ice.
"The ice conditions can change very quickly, so if you go on the ice, check the weather before and be safe. Always have a fully charged cell phone with you. It's the best way for emergency personnel to locate you," said Paradis.
Earlier this winter, there was a coordinated effort to free a Sarnia-bound freighter from the ice in Lake Erie.
The Samuel Risley assisted the United States Coast Guard Ships Neah Bay and Bristol Bay to free the Manitoulin.
The 202-metre ship was stuck for several days after becoming trapped in rapidly forming ice near Buffalo, New York.
Paradis said the Manitoulin is the only vessel that has required several units to free it from the ice so far this winter.