by Statmk » March 20, 2020, 10:04 am
No one knows but I was keeping track to get a pic. To me most likely was an ice shove. The ice had had been moderately heavy out in the bay, and should not have been a problem in and of itself for a vessel like the Conveyor. But the wind picked up and started packing in the lower bay like it does. Will wait for something official. We got stuck on the Charles E. Wilson going to Bay City, I think it was 1985. You do not rely on channel markers in the ice-- well buoys should ALWAYS be suspect--they move. USCG Mackinaw had to leave port at Christmas to come get us. They were less than thrilled.
For the Conveyor, it was daylight, the rain that was coming down should not have been a problem. A wind shift with high winds pushing pack ice? Most likely the culprit, but I was not aboard. I learned years ago that only the folks on board know what really happened and I do not second guess them. Never enjoyed all the uninformed commentary (Nor particularly the news helicopters flying around either).
They get the benefit of the doubt from me in that I saw nothing inappropriate about the trip into Green Bay. Michigan/Great Lakes and Alpena have both been in and out without incident but without the wind pickup and resulting ice pack that happened to occur yesterday.
No one knows but I was keeping track to get a pic. To me most likely was an ice shove. The ice had had been moderately heavy out in the bay, and should not have been a problem in and of itself for a vessel like the Conveyor. But the wind picked up and started packing in the lower bay like it does. Will wait for something official. We got stuck on the Charles E. Wilson going to Bay City, I think it was 1985. You do not rely on channel markers in the ice-- well buoys should ALWAYS be suspect--they move. USCG Mackinaw had to leave port at Christmas to come get us. They were less than thrilled.
For the Conveyor, it was daylight, the rain that was coming down should not have been a problem. A wind shift with high winds pushing pack ice? Most likely the culprit, but I was not aboard. I learned years ago that only the folks on board know what really happened and I do not second guess them. Never enjoyed all the uninformed commentary (Nor particularly the news helicopters flying around either).
They get the benefit of the doubt from me in that I saw nothing inappropriate about the trip into Green Bay. Michigan/Great Lakes and Alpena have both been in and out without incident but without the wind pickup and resulting ice pack that happened to occur yesterday.