“A New Heavy Icebreaker Is Essential” Claim Great Lakes Senators

gCaptain ^ | November 22, 2015 | John Konrad

[mad_as_he$$]

Just contract it out with Putin. The Russians have more than the rest of the world combined.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_icebreakers

[silverleaf]

yeah, use Obama new carbon taxes on global warming to pay for ice breakers?

[pa_dweller]

I don’t care as long as they use no fossil or nuclear fuels for propulsion. Sails would be good and would provide work for unemployed tentmakers.

[Gamecock]

With all that globull warming we clearly need more and larger icebreakers.

[Paladin2]

Nuke-u-lear ones, really BIG.

[pleasenotcalifornia]

The Great Lake states should form a confederation of sorts and build it themselves and not rely on the Feds for anything.

[Paladin2]

Too wide to squeeze into the Great Lakes.

[Smokin' Joe]

Oh wait....that’s how it works now in the corporate world.

Yep. You did it faster than ever before, in fact, 12% faster than last time when you set the old record! Your team will get mentioned in the corporate newsletter.

Next quarter we expect you to improve by another 10% (so we get our bonuses).

[null and void]

No problem. Chuck Norris could grab one end and Putin the other and they could portage the Arctica past the narrow locks...

[SkyPilot]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin%27s_lost_expedition

Fascinating (and tragic) story. Both ships had the first ever steam engines with screws installed, as well as metal plating for ice breaking.

[MasterGunner01]

What about the WAGB icebreaker that's already in-service on the Great Lakes with the USCG?

(+1) new-construction lake icebreaker [WAGB]
Bldr: Marinette Marine Corp., Marinette, Wisc.

(WAGB-30) USCGC Mackinaw

Laid down February 9, 2004
Launched April 2, 2005
In serv. June 10, 2006

D: 3,500 tons (fl)
S: 15 kts
Dim: 240 ft x 58 ft x 16 ft

M: diesel-electric: 3 diesels (4,200 hp each);2 azimuthal prop pods

Crew: 9 Officers, 5 CPO’s, 41 Crew

Remarks: In the FY 99 budget, Congress provided $5.3 million toward the design of a replacement for the Mackinaw (WAGB 83); the contract was let on 16-10-01 for $82,474,830. The ship, which will be much less powerful than its predecessor, will be able to operate for 185 days of the year and will be configured for use as a navigational aids tender during the non-winter seasons. Intended to be able to break 32-in layered ice at 3 kts and also to be used for law-enforcement, environmental protection, and national security missions. Assistance with hull design is being provided by Kvaerner Masa Marine and Masa-Yards Arctic Technology Center in Finland and Sweden.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Have Russians build one in Great Lakes! That would work.