The Canadian cargo vessel Manitoulin, which was stuck in the ice of Lake Erie with 17 people on board, was successfully released after a few days of blocking. On January 22, when the ship was heading from Buffalo (New York) back to Canada after unloading wheat, it came across a dangerous layer of ice and could not continue its journey. However, thanks to the joint efforts of the US and Canada coastal protection, the ship was released on January 24.
Officials reported that the ship and its crew remained safe throughout the operation. The Canadian Coast Guard provided assistance in the form of icebreakers, and an additional US coastal protection vessel was involved to assist as needed. The US coastal helicopter also monitored the air situation to respond promptly to changes. The 202 -meter Manitulin cargo ship remained blocked on ice for several days. Lieutenant Kyle Rivera from the US Coast Guard noted that the ship was accompanied by about 32 km of ice to open water, after which it was able to continue the journey.
It is worth noting that Canadian cargo vessels often face similar problems in the winter, when they have to pass through thick layers of ice. However, in this case, stuck did not lead to damage to the ship or threat to the life of the crew.
