Mackinaw

(06/19/07) Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw Rescues 2 Canoers

2007-06-19T23:07:35Z

(06/19/07) COAST GUARD CUTTER MACKINAW RESCUES 2 CANOERS

CHEBOYGAN, Mich. -- Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw and Coast Guard Station St. Ignace rescued two people after their canoe was overturned by 25 knot winds this afternoon.

Two 21-year-olds were canoeing in the South Channel of Lake Huron when they were overpowered by strong westerly winds and overturned into the water approximately two miles away from the Mackinaw.

The Mackinaw's crew received a call at 1:35 p.m. from Station St. Ignace that a woman reported that two of her children, both wearing life jackets, were adrift offshore, had turned over their canoe and were barely in sight.

Cutter Mackinaw's crew set its rescue and assistance bill and immediately launched its small boat to search for the pair. The crew also deployed two shore side teams with marine radios and emergency medical equipment to vector the small boat to the waterborne pair.

The small boat crew located the two and safely brought them aboard. The pair were transferred to a 47-foot patrol boat from Coast Guard Station St. Ignace where they were then transported to awaiting Emergency Medical Services at the Cheboygan County Marina.

The pair were in the water for approximately one hour and are being treated at Cheboygan Memorial Hospital for hypothermia.

For further information, please contact Ens. Erin Chlum, a spokesperson from the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw at (231) 597-2030.

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GREEN BAY ICEBREAKING OPERATIONS

2007-02-24T02:24:24Z

Cutter Mackinaw
U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: February 23, 2007

Contact: Lt.j.g. Jeannette Killen
(231) 597-2030

GREEN BAY ICE OPERATIONS

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw will enter Green Bay at Rock Island Passage on or about the first of March and will operate in Green Bay the first two weeks of March. While in Green Bay, Mackinaw will be performing a series of operational tests to evaluate and record the performance of shipboard systems in ice. The cutter will base their operations out of the Marinette Fuel Pier, east of the Ogden Street Bridge, Marinette, WI. This will require daily transits of the Menominee River as well as operations in Green Bay north of a line drawn from Peshtigo Reef Light east to Sherwood Point along the Door Peninsula. USCGC Mackinaw will transit along the charted Lake Carriers Association (LCA) track lines upon entering and exiting the bay of Green Bay. The specific ice trials will occur in the triangle between Green Island, Chambers Island and Sherwood Point.

Additionally, USCGC Mobile Bay will be participating in these ice trials. Based in Sturgeon Bay, WI, Mobile Bay will begin daily transits of the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal from the Michigan Street Bridge to Sherwood Point. Recreational ice users along this channel, especially in the vicinity of Potawatomi State Park should be aware of this icebreaking transit.

Recreational users of the ice should plan their activity carefully, use caution near the ice, and stay away from shipping channels and the charted LCA track lines.

Further inquiries or specific questions regarding the exact timing of these events can be made by phone to the Ninth District Public Affairs Office at (216) 902-6020 or to the Vessel Traffic Service in Sault Ste. Marie at (906) 635-3232.

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MACKINAW SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES FIRST ICEBREAKING ASSIGNMENT

2007-02-15T19:16:14Z

Cutter Mackinaw
U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: February 15, 2007

Contact: Lt.j.g. Jeannette Killen
(231) 597-2030

MACKINAW SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES FIRST ICEBREAKING ASSIGNMENT

MACKINAC STRAITS, Mich - USCGC Mackinaw escorted tugs James A. Hannah and Mary E. Hannah through the Mackinac Straits Wednesday, marking the first ice escort assignment in her history.

In preparation for the arrival of the Hannah tugs, Mackinaw groomed and widened a track from Round Island Passage, beneath the Mackinac Bridge to Lansing Shoal Light. This "track maintenance" required power and finesse to crush and flatten windrows, groom turns and flush loosened ice to ready the track.

As a new asset to Operation Taconite- the icebreaking operation covering Lake Superior, the St. Mary's River, the Mackinac Straits and Green Bay- Mackinaw got an early start on the assignment not only to ready the ice for the tugs, but also to provide an opportunity for the Cutter's navigation team to log critical icebreaking training.

The western-most ice edge, extending just beyond the Lansing Shoal light, held the thickest and most besetting ice of the transit. To break up this 3-6 foot thick brash ice under immense pressure, Mackinaw sliced curved tracks and then made high-speed passes through them, using her wake to disrupt and dissipate the concentrated ice. The Northeast winds helped carry the ice floes south and out of the path of the Hannah tugs.

Mackinaw's next assignment will be another Straits escort operation to assist the tug Michigan who originated her transit in Chicago with a load of heating oil bound for Cheboygan, Michigan (coincidentally Mackinaw's home port). The escort is currently scheduled for Monday, February 19^th.

For further information, contact Lt.j.g. Killen at (231) 597-2030. Pictures are also available.

CHRISTMAS TREE SHIP PREPARES FOR CHICAGO

2006-11-22T15:03:40Z

Ninth District External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: November 22, 2006

Contact: Lt.j.g. Jeannette Killen
(231) 597-2030

CHRISTMAS TREE SHIP PREPARES FOR CHICAGO

CHICAGO - On December 1^st at 8:00 a.m., Chicago's historic Christmas Tree Ship will arrive at Navy Pier for the 6^th year under the name Mackinaw, but with a different silhouette.

USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30) is carrying on the Christmas Tree Ship tradition resurrected by her predecessor Mackinaw (WAGB-83) in 2000, and will deliver 1,000 trees to Chicago this year. The trees were purchased by the Chicago's Christmas Ship organization from farms in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and the Cheboygan area and will be given to needy Chicago families.

Loaded onto the ship by Ogema Heights Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps members, Mackinaw crew and crew family members on November 22^nd, the trees will be sharing deck space with buoys as the buoy-tender will be decommissioning lighted aids and replacing them with winter marks on the voyage to and from Chicago.

The Christmas Tree event on Navy Pier will invite school children aboard for tours and classes with nautical and historical themes and will culminate with the Grand Tree Unloading Ceremony on December 2^nd. The ship will be open for public tours on Dec. 2 and Dec. 3, 2006 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Mackinaw will retain 50 trees for the historic transit back to Cheboygan. These trees will be donated to Coast Guard families in the area.

For further information, contact Lt.j.g. Killen at (231) 597-2030. Pictures are also available.

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MACKINAW LOADS 1000 CHRISTMAS TREES ON DECK

2006-11-21T20:10:59Z

Ninth District External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Press Release

Date: November, 21 2006

Contact: Lt.j.g. Jeannette Killen
(231) 597-2030

MACKINAW LOADS 1000 CHRISTMAS TREES ON DECK

CHEBOYGAN, Mich. - As Chicago's historic Christmas Tree Ship, USCGC Mackinaw will be loaded with 1,000 Christmas trees by Ogema Heights ROTC members on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m here.

The loading will be accompanied by a donation event with the Salvation Army, the Cheboygan post of the Michigan State Police, Cheboygan County Police and Cheboygan City Police present. 200 trees will be donated to the Salvation Army during this time.

The trees were purchased by the Chicago's Christmas Ship organization from a tree farm in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. They are of various species and sizes and will make the historic journey from Cheboygan to Chicago for a Dec. 1, 2006 arrival.

For the first time in history, the trees will be sharing deck space with buoys as Mackinaw will be decommissioning lighted aids and replacing them with winter marks on the voyage to and from Chicago.

For further information, contact Lt.j.g. Killen at (231) 597-2030. Pictures are also available.

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MACKINAW Farewell Visit to Detroit, MI

2006-04-18T12:52:12Z

CHEBOYGAN, Mich. - The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter MACKINAW is visiting Detroit, MI for the last time before she is decommissioned on June 9, 2006. Over her 62 year career, MACKINAW has had the pleasure of maintaining the flow of commerce through the Great Lakes and connecting rivers.

CGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83) during her final trip to Detroit, MI will be mooring at the Hart Plaza and will open for tours on Thursday April 20^th from 1-5pm.

For more information contact ENS Elizabeth Newton at enewton@cgcmackinaw.uscg.mil or (231-420-9562).

Update to MACKINAW's Farewell Visit to Cleveland, OH

2006-04-16T18:09:45Z

CHEBOYGAN, Mich. - CGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83) during her final trip to Cleveland, OH will now be mooring at the Ninth Street Pier and will open for tours on Monday April 17^th from 1-5pm.

For more information contact ENS Elizabeth Newton at enewton@cgcmackinaw.uscg.mil or (231-420-9562).

MACKINAW Farewell Visit to Cleveland, OH

2006-04-13T17:16:46Z

CHEBOYGAN, Mich. - The U.S. Coast Guard's largest domestic icebreaker, the CGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83), is returning to Cleveland for a farewell visit. For over 62 years, MACKINAW served the Great Lakes shipping industry, moving commerce vital to the region and the nation. From December through April, MACKINAW broke ice to maintain the flow of commerce through the Great Lakes and connecting rivers. MACKINAW's other missions include search and rescue, aids to navigation, and public relations. MACKINAW recently concluded her final ice season and will be decommissioned in June 2006.

Come visit the CGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83) during her final trip to Cleveland, OH. The ship will be docked at the Dock 32 Cleveland Port Authority and will open for tours on Monday April 17^th from 1-5pm.

For more information contact ENS Elizabeth Newton at enewton@cgcmackinaw.uscg.mil or (231-420-9562).

MACKINAW Farewell Visit to Toledo, OH

2006-04-11T15:56:55Z

Cheboygan, MI - The U.S. Coast Guard's largest domestic icebreaker, the CGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83), is returning to Toledo for a farewell visit. Her keel was laid in Toledo on March 20, 1943 by the Toledo Shipbuilding Company. The American Shipbuilding and Drydock Company completed construction and launched her on March 4, 1944. When she was commissioned, MACKINAW was the most powerful and capable icebreaker in the world.

For over 62 years, MACKINAW served the Great Lakes shipping industry, moving commerce vital to the region and the nation. From December through April, MACKINAW broke ice to maintain the flow of commerce through the Great Lakes and connecting rivers. MACKINAW recently concluded her final ice season and will be decommissioned in June 2006.

Come visit the CGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83) during her farewell visit to Toledo. The cutter will be moored at the Lafarge Cement Dock and will be open for tours on Saturday April 15^th from 1-5 pm.

For more information contact ENS Elizabeth Newton at enewton@cgcmackinaw.uscg.mil or (231) 420-9562.