No caption/date; Photo No. She was to have been named Manitowoc but the Navy had already assigned that name to a PF (frigate). The Mackinaw was built specifically for Great Lakes use. I had a great time and intend to go again next year. Ms. Anges R. Waesche, the wife of the Commandant, Vice Admiral Russell T. Waesche, christening Mackinaw on Saturday, 4 March 1944 at the Toledo Shipbuilding Yard, Toledo, Ohio. In this photo from 2014, the Coast Guard Cutter Katmai Bay, a 140-foot ice-breaking tug, escorts the motor vessel Calumet through Lake Michigan near Lansing Shoal. The snowmobiles driver, a 32-year-old man, was arrested after the Friday night crash. The Coast Guard's design work had been based on the research conducted by LCDR Edward Thiele, USCG, during a trip he made to Europe to study Scandinavian icebreaker design as well as on the design of the Soviet icebreaker Krassin. The United States Coast Guard Cutter MACKINAW WAGB-83 was built as part of the war effort during World War II to meet the heavy demands placed on industry for an increase in production of war materials. While in the air, the rescue swimmer and flight mechanic figured out how to organize the helicopters cabin so they could load the patient once they reached the island. Photo No. Published Mackinaw was built to be literally land-locked, her size not permitting her to leave the Great Lakes. (Screen capture from YouTube . ********************** Her effectiveness in keeping the shipping lanes open longer than ever before was pointed out in an information bulletin which stated: "In the years previous to the MACKINAW, general navigation on the Great Lakes was closed to shipping due to ice on the average of about 4-1/2 months a year. Great Lakes shipping. Predecessors. powerful ship of its type in the world, runs interference for four seagoing freighters through the Answering the call for the injured womans medevac off the island was a crew from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City. He says the Mesabi Mine sustained damage to its bow. U.S. Coast Guard Cutters & Craft, 1946-1990. The original blueprints of the Mackinaw called for 300ft in length. She carries on the proud legacy and tradition of her predecessor, CGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83), who faithfully served the maritime community throughout the Great Lakes for over 60 years. The collision caused damage to the new vessel's bow as well as to the wall. They talked about what went smoothly, and what could be done differently next time. While Mackinac Island has a medical center, trauma patients needing more advanced care are typically taken to a mainland hospital. According to Admiral Thiele, the "Mackinaw was nothing but a Wind-class ship that was squashed down and pushed out and extended to meet the requirements of the [Great] Lakes." Aided by several smaller icebreakers in the USCG fleet, such as the USCGC Katmai Bay, the Mackinaw provided safe passage for freighters as they delivered their cargo of taconite, grain, and other resources, around the Great Lakes to ports such as Detroit, Duluth, Chicago, Gary, and more. Mackinaw was based on the Wind-class icebreakers first designed during the early years of World War II for icebreaking and combat operations in Arctic waters. Her first commanding officer was CDR E. J. Roland. The ship was also featured on the television series Modern Marvels. photographer unknown. As conditions permit, she works up through the Soo Locks to White Fish Bay and areas of the St. Mary's River, then to the head of Lake Superior, then eventually works into the lower lakes areas. Captain Hudson was subsequently replaced by Commander John Little in April 2006. Capt. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. USCGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83) U.S. Coast Guard Photo Class: Mackinaw Class Icebreaker Commisioned: 20 Dec 1944 At: Toledo Shipbuilding Co. A 20-year-old woman suffered serious injuries to her back and head and had to be airlifted to Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. of Watertown, Wis., stands at the controls of the forward motor room panel aboard Coast Guard's During World War II the "Arsenal of Democracy" needed to keep its factories running year-round, especially the steel-making plants along the Great Lakes. "CLEVELAND (June 21, 2006) - The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw (WAGB-83) sailed for a final voyage from her home port of decommissioning, Cheboygan, MI to a permanent berth at the SS Chief Wawatam dock in Mackinaw City. USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30) is a 240-foot (73 m) multi-purpose vessel with a primary mission as a heavy icebreaker specifically built for operations on the North American Great Lakes for the United States Coast Guard. [3] Additionally, the Mackinaw can continuously proceed through fresh water ice up to 32 inches (81cm) thick at 3 knots or 14 inches (36cm) at 10 knots. She is a variant of the Wind class polar icebreakers. Vessel was designed to keep lake shipping lanes open during the winter Tragically, the Mackinaw was unavailable to support the freighters on that fateful night, and was unable to support in the futile search for survivors over the following days. "; no date listed [1953? The Maritime Executive. Mackinaw was commissioned on 20 December 1944 after undergoing trials on Lake Huron. The Philippine Coast Guard was alerted and activated its local stations rescuers. Published All rights reserved (About Us). Cheboygan, MI 49721 USCGC MACKINAW (WLBB-30) The U.S. Coast Guard is required by law to maintain a heavy icebreaking capability on the Great Lakes to assist in keeping channels and harbors open to navigation in response to the reasonable demands of commerce to meet the winter shipping needs of industry. ]; Photo No. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard. I really hope some other people can find this service and get in touch with people like I did. The firing makes permanent a temporary decision to relieve Triner following the December 12th accident. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 4.5K views, 59 likes, 7 loves, 8 comments, 55 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District: The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw is a one of a kind icebreaker on. Cutter History File. Monday through Sunday. 632 Coast Guard Drive In recent decades she continued to extend the shipping season from late March until mid-January. ice-covered St. Mary's River in an epochal mid-winter passage from the docks of The "Mackinaw" is now commanded by Capt. While most automobile traffic is prohibited on Mackinac, snowmobiles are a common form of transportation and recreation there in the winter, with sleds belonging to locals and visitors alike outnumbering the work horses. as a factor in his decision to fire the captain. On 21 November 1966 she transported 29 crewmen from the grounded German M/V Nordmeer to Alpine, Michigan and on 29 November 1966 she evacuated the remaining crewmen. Search . She now resides in Mackinaw City, the community for which she was named. The heeling pumps were capable of transferring up to 160 tons of water from one side of the icebreaker to the other in about one-and-a-half minutes. weeks of icebreaking operations. All Rights Reserved. is reported to be almost completely frozen from shore to shore. "AT CONTROLS OF MOTOR ROOM PANEL ABOARD MACKINAW [:] ELTON REINHART, EM2c., She spends many hours assisting vessels in distress, engages in law enforcement and boarding duties in the interests of safety on the waters, patrols sail and power boat regattas, and usually makes one or two annual cruises for training reserve forces. Length : 240 feet : Beam: 58.5 feet : Draft: 16 feet : Displacement (LT) 3,500 : Maximum Speed: 15 knots : Crew Size: Tracy Hoffman, the Command Center training officer for the Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. For MEDEVACs from larger islands that have airstrips and can accommodate fixed-wing aircraft, commercial providers are contacted first so that Coast Guard assets can be reserved for water rescues or searches. 32-36-68; photo by "Dick" Whittington, Los Angeles. The Mac, Queen of the Great Lakes as Mackinaw has been known with affection, provided 62 years of outstanding service facilitating commerce in support of the economy of the entire nation. The vessel is equipped with a 160-40 Meter Dipole, antenna couplers and vertical antennas linked to the two Sunair RT-9000 transceivers. The icebreakers freed 38 of the steamers and escorted them into the harbor and freed and escorted out another 49. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Keith Showalter says the accident happened about 10:45 a.m. Sunday. Cost: $8,830,198 (hull & machinery); reportedly over $10 million total cost, Propulsion:3 electric motors driven by 6 Westinghouse DC generators driven by 6 Fairbanks Morse, 10-cylinder, 2-cycle diesels; 12,000 SHP; two 14-foot diameter stern propellers; one 12-foot diameter bow propeller. I also want to highlight the compassion and professionalism of the paramedics on both Mackinac Island and at Traverse City. Much of the ships technology, including the Azipod thrusters, is from Finnish Maritime Cluster. List of United States Coast Guard cutters, Marine Protector-class coastal patrol boat, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_States_Coast_Guard_Cutter&oldid=1137672465, This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 21:57. to the aid of the car ferry Arthur K. Atkinson, of the Ann Arbor Railroad Company, 241783; Release No. Her breadth and length were greater than her sisters but consequently those dimensions meant she could not get through the Welland Canal and was therefore prevented from ever leaving the Great Lakes. This picture was made as they convoy moved through St. Mary's River to enter Lake Michigan. Normally, lake ice begins thawing at the end of April, but "Big Mac" -- as the icebreaker is affectionately called in the lakes region -- has opened shipping lanes as early as the third week in March, thus facilitating the early movement of millions of tons of iron ore, grain, and other vital cargo. When the Mackinaw drives its great bow onto the ice, the icebreaker is capable of breaking through 4 feet of solid sheet blue ice. USCGC Mackinaw (WAGB-83), an icebreaker in commission from 1944 to 2006 USCGC Mackinaw (WLBB-30), an icebreaker in commission since 2006 See also. My hat is also off to the crew of the Katmai Bay, who shifted from icebreaking to search and rescue in a matter of moments to help this woman get the critical care she needed.. While en route to her new home port of Cheboygan, Michigan, the Mackinaw struck a seawall in Grand Haven, Michigan on December 12, 2005. 4; "A VIEW OF FOWD [sic] SCREW. Mackinaw's keel was laid on 20 March 1943 at the Toledo Shipbuilding Company's yard in Toledo, Ohio. That may sound like a long time, but 30 minutes goes fast when you need to gather information on the situation, check the weather, plan a flight, change into survival gear, brief the plan and contingencies, and then get in and execute the various checklists necessary to start up and take off in the helicopter.. A period public affairs release described Mackinaw's typical operations during the year. In 1790, Congress authorized the Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, to create a maritime service to enforce customs laws (1 Stat. Get Connected to the Village Media Network! She also hosted 25 Soviet naval personnel who trained in ice breaking operations prior to their taking over one of the "Wind" class icebreakers under Lend Lease. Pilots: LCDR Dan Beshoar and LTJG Steve Durfee. "; Photo No. CDR Scott J. Smith assumed command in July 2008 and was relieved by CDR Michael J. Davanzo in Aug, 2011. 183; photographer unknown. The Philippine Coast Guard has rescued 88 passengers from a ro/ro ferry that ran aground on a bank between the islands of Cebu and Bohol on Tuesday afternoon. no date listed; Photo No. 125-63 dated 7 March 1963; Photo No. Like with Friday nights rescue flight, weather plays a role in whether the Coast Guard is called in to assist with medevac situations. The Maritime Executive. Lower Lake Michigan, as six Coast Guard Cutters attempted to keep necessary traffic .the Coast Guard hopes to keep Great Lakes shipping lanes open one month longer each year, and to enable newly-built naval and cargo craft to move from Great Lakes shipyards to the ocean during the winter months, averting long delays.". After her decommissioning, the Mackinaw was purchased and prepared to be turned into a museum ship as testament to her service on the Great Lakes and spare her being taken to the scrapyard. The MACKINAW has reduced this closed season to an average of about three months a year." Michael Hudson. The vessel has been known as the "Queen of the Great Lakes" and "The Largest Icebreaker on the Great Lakes"; the site states that "she was built during World War II to meet the heavy demands of war materials and transportation during the winter months".[3]. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1982. Alcohol and/or drugs are suspected to be a factor in the incident, police said. Usually the MACKINAW heads first for the strategic area of the Straits of Mackinac about the first week in March to begin ice operations. Heel & Trim Ballast Water: 345,828, Deck Gear:2 x 12-ton cranes (removed & replaced with a Hiab Cargo Crane, 1,000-lbs. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Our goal is to have the wheels of the helicopter leave the pavement less than 30 minutes after the alarm goes off. The Maritime Executive. 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