WINDSOR

Canadian, U.S. Coast Guard help vessels travel Great Lakes

CTV Windsor Published Thursday, January 22, 2015 2:31PM EST

In this image taken from video, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bristol Bay and Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley break ice for the Tug Everlast with the Barge Norman McLeod in the St. Clair River, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015, helping the tug and barge travel from Sarnia to Windsor in less than a day. (U.S. Coast Guard / Chief Petty Officer Nicholas Gould)

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The Canadian and U.S. Coast Guard are working hard to help commercial vessels travel the maritime lanes in the Great Lakes.

It's part of Operation Coal Shovel, seasonal ice breaking operations in the south of Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair and Detroit River.

Keeping the lakes open allows important shipments of iron ore, salt, limestone, oil derivatives, cement and other cargo to get to their destinations.

The U.S. Coast Guard says its icebreakers have logged 493 hours of work and helped 53 vessels during the operation, which started Jan. 8.

U.S. and Canadian crews coordinate, conduct and track maintenance, provide vessel assistance and conduct flushing operations to minimize the potential for residential flooding.