An ice shanty was discovered in the shipping channel between Duluth and Superior last week, which led to the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter, the Mackinaw, being sent out to investigate.

The United States Coast Guard and Navy Integrated Program Office have received approval to begin building the first Polar Security Cutter. The Polar Security Cutter is the first heavy polar icebreaker built in the United States in over five decades.

The number of new U.S. Coast Guard cutters destined to call Naval Station Newport home has doubled, Rhode Island’s U.S. Sen. Jack Reed announced Tuesday. Two sets of 360-foot twin U.S. Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutters — not the one set Reed’s office originally announced in 2020 — will be based on Aquidneck Island.

The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy Integrated Program Office received approval Dec. 19 to begin building the first Polar Security Cutter (PSC). The PSC marks the first heavy polar icebreaker to be built in the United States in more than five decades.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw made an unexpected stop in the Superior shipping channel last week to remove an ice shelter.

Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw (WLBB 30) is assigned to manage the ice-breaking needs of western Lake Superior, specifically the twin ports of Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin. As ice coverage expands, U.S. Coast Guard officials will assign additional icebreakers.

The Coast Guard’s operational polar icebreaking fleet currently includes one heavy icebreaker, the 399-foot Coast Guard cutter Polar Star, commissioned in 1976, and one medium icebreaker, the 420-foot Coast Guard cutter Healy, commissioned in 1999.

Duluth, United States - January 01, 2025 [Note: partially no sound; partially time-lapse] The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw (WLBB 30) has begun icebreaking operations in the Duluth-Superior Harbor as part of Operation Taconite.