[artichokegrower]

“Heavy ice cover disrupts shipping and commerce on the Great Lakes, resulting in a severe loss of economic activity, revenue and jobs that depresses both the regional and national economy,” wrote the Senators in the letter."

More evidence of global warming.

[Slyfox]

United States Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow

So, no.

[Parmy]

Why? We are in the middle of climate change. The science is settled. (src_

[Bryanw92]

According to these two Democrats and other Fellow Travelers, the ice will melt from global warming before the ship could possibly be built.

[Sacajaweau]

Let Canada contribute one.

[Sacajaweau]

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/01/10/ice-lakes-breaker-michigan-shipping/21529695/

[Vaquero]

Their newest paradigm of ‘climate change’ covers all weather phenomena. Global Warming..Global Cooling ...... But mostly the heavy precipitation of wind blown and drifting bull$h!t

[cripplecreek]

Ice has disrupted shipping every year since there was shipping on the great lakes.



Michigan legislative action thread

[CodeToad]

The congress should fire back: “According to State policy, global warming will ensure the lakes are never frozen. Request denied.”

[Paladin2]

Ice Age is already overdue.

[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.

[pleasenotcalifornia]

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

[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.