Winter is still holding a firm grasp on Michigan and much of the country. In a state surrounded by fresh water, it’s imperative that the Great Lakes and the rivers which feed them are kept open for commerce. That’s the job of the United States Coast Guard, which operates several icebreaking ships on the lakes.Current State’s Kevin Lavery spent a day aboard the U-S Coast Guard Cutter Neah Bay. The word “cutter” does not denote cutting ice; that’s just what the Coast Guard names their vessels. This is an icebreaker, though, built just for that purpose.
The Neah Bay is 140 feet long, weighs about 700 tons, and carries a crew of 17.