Three Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers have been dispatched to the section of the Saint Lawrence River between Lac Saint-Pierre and Montreal to break up a ice pack that formed during the recent cold snap.
The Coast Guard icebreakers Pierre Radisson, Amundsen and Martha L. Black are being used to clear the ice and reopen the waterway.
1/3 #CCGLive – Lac St-Pierre #Quebec. Recent cold weather has led to the formation of ice jams. CCGS Pierre Radisson, Amundsen and Martha L. Black are on scene to clear the ice and to prevent flooding in the area. pic.twitter.com/UpX4M8OT4t
— Canadian Coast Guard (@CoastGuardCAN) January 23, 2019
The Coast Guard says the measures will also prevent localized flooding.
In Tweets Tuesday evening, the Coast Guard announced that a 13 kilometre stretch of the waterway from Île des Barques east of Sorel would remain closed to shipping until further notice.
2/3 #CCGLive – Lac St-Pierre #Quebec. A temporary closure of the waterway is in effect between upper Lac Saint-Pierre to Montreal to ensure public safety and to optimise icebreaking in order to open the waterway as soon as possible. pic.twitter.com/GP7KrfvbUF
— Canadian Coast Guard (@CoastGuardCAN) January 23, 2019
In a news release the St. Lawrence Economic Development Council called on the federal government to provide more icebreakers for the Coast Guard to ensure the river remains open to shipping at all times.
3/3 #CCGLive – Lac St-Pierre #Quebec. Flood prevention is the top priority of #icebreaking operations, along with a timely re-opening of the waterway. Updates will be provided every 12 hours, or sooner as they become available. pic.twitter.com/CE5wu7dKt1
— Canadian Coast Guard (@CoastGuardCAN) January 23, 2019