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Sunday, March 10, 2019

Ice and Icebreakers


The Big Lake is officially 90% frozen as of the 7th. I don’t think it will get much farther, though. The temperatures threaten to be around freezing or warmer this week and there is some wind. That will cause the demise of the ice sheets.  It also means that we can all dress in lighter clothing again! 
 (Detroit Free Press)

Shipping season will probably be delayed, too, as they usually like to get rolling around the 15th of this month, but I doubt the icebreaker’s ability to open and maintain shipping lanes in these conditions. I guess we’ll wait and see.

The USCGC Mackinaw is the icebreaker used to do this and I haven’t heard that it is out there working yet. I have seen it go by a few times in previous years. She has a distinctive shape and color and so is easy to identify. At 240 feet in length it is about one quarter of the size of some of the freighters it works for, but it does what it does to keep them all going. 

 (Photos courtesy of Wikipedia)

Note that I referred to the Mackinaw as a “she” in the tradition of sailors. That terminology has been losing favor since the 1700s and continues the downward spiral away from chauvinistic tradition. “Since 2002, Lloyd's List, which began reporting shipping news since 1734, has referred to all vessels as "it", and many news sources have adopted this new convention. Happily, most sailors have not.” (Traveler.com) There is a surprisingly large amount to read about this, should you be so inclined. Any internet search will take you there.

I wonder if the U.S. and Canada will continue with ocean going icebreakers to keep the Northwest passage open as the sea ice continues to dwindle? It opened in 2017 in August and was passable without the use of an icebreaker for the first time in many years. Of course, there is some controversy about who has the rights to use it. Does it belong to Canada or is it international waters? I am thinking it really belongs to Canada, but I am sure every country with an economic interest will disagree with that. It should be an interesting "discussion."

And for a little entertainment about the Northwest Passage I bring you one of, if not the greatest Canadian folksinger of the last century, Stan Rogers.




26 comments:

  1. I've always found the practice of referring to ships as "she" a bit curious. I used to think it was a survival of an earlier stage of the language when inanimate objects had grammatical gender (as they still do in German, French, etc.), but the word for "ship" in German is neuter, so I assume it was in Old English as well. Maybe sailors away from female companionship for long periods tended to feminize what was available?

    I can't help noticing that you refer to the Mackinaw as "she" once and "it" six times in the same paragraph. Was there a particular reason for the change?

    Anyway, I'm glad the weather there is finally improving. The icy cold persisting into March here is quite bad enough, but nothing like the Antarctic-looking conditions you've been enduring.

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    1. You caught my inconsistency! Initially I referred to it as "it", but thought about it and decided to do the "she" thing to see if anyone cares or reacts. Normally I would refer to a ship as "it" unless I had some particular affection for one for some reason, but would likely call it an it. I did read about the origins of the practice and decided I didn't feel like going into all that, despite its interest to me.
      Next, I should look up the REAL reason for Daylight Savings Time!
      And yes, I am tired of shivering, thanks!

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  2. Ah Stan Rogers, love his music. Gone far too soon.
    I just finished reading a book that documents some of the searches for the Northwest passage.... EREBUS by Michael Palin.... yes, of Monty Python fame. Loved reading this book.
    Raining here this morning, the first morning above 0C for ages, and it's going to keep on melting... hooray!

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    1. Michael Palin? No kidding! Those Python people never cease to amaze me!
      Still a few inches of fresh snow this morning. Might have to go skiing again.

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  3. I think the central part of the Northwest Passage clearly belongs to Canada as it is entirely within our domestic territory. The bits on each end may arguably be in international waters but that's not going to do anyone any good.

    It's time to end the sexist tradition of referring to any machines which serve men as "she." This affects much more than just ships.

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    1. Hear, hear - and also let’s eliminate any remaining traditions that keep women from serving said machines. Including women’s traditions of pretending to be unable.

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    2. After mulling these things over for a millisecond I find myself in complete agreement with both of you about Canada and "traditions" that serve no useful end.
      A childhood friend of mine was one of the first women to be a licensed captain of an ocean going tugboat. She wrote a book about it called Woman in the Wheelhouse.

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  4. Palin is a very experienced adventurer by now; he’s been everywhere and written expensively about the world.
    Icebreakers are such liberators, aren’t they! Beautiful monsters!

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  5. He is truly a gifted human.
    I have been fascinated by ships and voyages for most of my life. I sometimes regret not having spent much more time at sea.

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  6. Lighter clothing. In your neck of the woods, does that mean only three heavy down coats instead of five?

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  7. Back in the 1969 I was with a Special Projects squadron and we flew reconnaissance of the Manhattan as she tried to open up the Northwest passage. We had scientist aboard the aircraft that measured ice thickness with lasers to help the Manhattna chart the course of least resistance.
    the Ol'Buzzard

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    1. That actually sounds kind of fascinating! I would be curious to see the data.

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  8. Would love to see the ice breaking ship work its way..

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    1. I would love to be on one when it is working!

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  9. I agree with Debra, the eastern half is clearly within inland Canadian waters. Maybe if things pick up, Canada could start collecting a toll from international shippers.

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    1. Exactly! Canada should, and hopefully will, do everything it can to control its waters and access to them.

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  10. It got up to 82 degrees this afternoon. I don't want to live where the cold is as extreme as what you have, but I hope we get a few more chilly days before summer arrives to melt us. I guess I'd heard of ice breakers before but I know very little about them.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Not entirely sure I w ant to live in this climate either. Summers are terrific, but the coldest months of winter are taking a small toll. 82 is about as warm as I like if it isn't too humid.

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  11. The satellite picture of the lake almost frozen over is amazing to see. You've really had some prolonged cold there, haven't you? But it's disheartening to know that the NW passage stayed open, which will probably become the norm now. I think Putin has designs on that bit of salt water.

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    1. When Teflon Don (aka Mango Mussolini)hands Putin the keys to this country, he will want to help himself to yours, too. We'll keep the orange shitgibbon distracted with this wall nonsense long enough to avoid all that if we can.

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  12. Thanks for the music - I hadn't heard that one before. You may be right about the North not requiring icebreakers anymore; but it's beginning to look as though we might need them farther south.

    BTW, your "orange shit-gibbon" mention in the comment above just made my day! I'm still snickering!

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  13. Everything is finally starting to melt around here. We are getting above freezing with rain and it is making an icy, slushy mess.
    There are so many ways to describe the current occupant of the White House, but none of them are flattering. Why the bible thumpers think this amoral narcissist is the second coming of Christ is beyond my comprehension.

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  14. Spring in Regina, finally. Water running in the alley and my favourite ice cream store opened today.
    Stan Rogers and Harry Chapin. The good die young it seems.

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  15. The packed base that is my driveway deteriorated quickly in the rain and above zero temperatures. Needed 4wd just to get out!
    So much talent meets an early demise. Wonder why that is?

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