Freighters, a tug, & a Coast Guard cutter (2014-05-01)

[Truwriter]

It appears that the larger breakers are now starting their tender duties and putting out buoys that could not be done while so much ice was still moving. Some of the info that has been put out over the ice ordeal indicates that many of these vessels have sustained damage breaking ice including bow thrusters that limit their ability to manuver and set a buoy accurately. Have to have the boom on deck to life and set them but those were the cutters that were out there breaking ice right at the end of their limitations. I notice ATON duties are showing up on print outs now and some are listed as having limited manuverability which is probably the bow thruster issue. Saw here that the CG logged three times as many hours on ice breaking than in past years. Constant impact of ice has to create some maintenace issues.

[middlerouge]

Alder hasn't been this far down in a while. Anybody know when she was down here last?

[Bookworm]

Great Republic, in her new colors, nearly slipped past me very early this morning. The others came along through the day and into late evening.