Freighter Stuck in Lake Erie Ice Near Buffalo, New York

On January 22nd, the Canadian-flagged freighter Manitoulin became trapped in thick ice on Lake Erie while departing from Buffalo, New York. Fortunately, the crew remains safe, and the vessel has not sustained any damage.

The 663-foot freighter was en route back to Sarnia, Ontario, after delivering a shipment of wheat earlier that day. At approximately 11:43 AM EST, the ship became immobilized roughly a mile from shore. 

According to Paul Angelillo, a search and rescue specialist with the U.S. Coast Guard in Buffalo, while freighters on the Great Lakes are usually capable of navigating icy conditions, occasionally the ice proves too dense to overcome.

The 17 crew members onboard have been reported safe, and there are no signs of harm to the vessel. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that as of the afternoon of January 23rd, an icebreaker had started working to clear the ice around the freighter. The goal is to free the ship enough to regain the necessary speed to safely continue breaking through the ice on its own.