Two Freightliners Freed After being stuck in the Ice

Two Lake Superior freightliners have been freed after being stuck in the ice. The U.S. Coast Guard came to the aid of the ships with the crew of the Biscayne Bay, a 690 ton Ice Breaking Tug. The icebreaker and its crew spent several hours of efforts before finally releasing the 1000 foot freightliner from the icy grip of the St. Marys river. Authorities say the Walter J. McArthy got stuck on Wednesday evening near Sault Ste. Marie.

Meanwhile the Canadian Coast Guard offered assistance by sending its Ice Breaker the Samuel Risley to the rescue of the Edgar B. Speer, another 1000 foot vessel also stuck in the nearby frozen waters. The Speer became disabled around 4:00 am Yesterday morning. 

Both vessels were freed by mid afternoon.