With the shipping season winding down, boats were hard pressed to finish up. The end of the season has been hampered by heavy ice on connecting rivers such as the Saint Mary's River in the Upper Peninsula and the Saint Clair River between Lake Huron and Lake Saint Clair. Ice flowing from the north has met with ice blown north on Lake Saint Clair causing thick ice at the mouth of the river.
The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Griffin was one of many ships tasked with breaking ice to allow the bigger freighters to finish out their season. It was a really interesting experience to watch her cruise through the ice making a path for the Arthur M. Anderson who was behind her.
