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11 FEB 2014: Penobscot River, Brewer, Maine. A tremendous day on the water observing onboard the 65' Ice Breaking Cutter TACKLE. In combination with the SHACKLE, a similar vessel, the two made a serious dent in ice up to 20-inch thick just south of the Bangor I395 bridge in Brewer, Maine. Flotilla 2-8 members DCAPT DePuy, DCDR Raynor and IPFC Spiller joined CAPT Gilda in frigid temperatures to see how "team" Coast Guard gets it done.
Coast Guard Cutter Tackle breaks ice along the Penobscot River in Brewer, Maine, Feb. 11, 2014. The 65-foot icebreaker pushed through nearly 20-inch thick ice to allow open water to flow. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Rob Simpson)
With synchronized precision, the TACKLE and SHACKLE needed to use the "ramming" method to break through the thick 12"+ ice. Both vessels pushed their 14" ice limits all day. After two hours of work, approximately 200 yds. were cleared demonstrating just how slow this type of ice gives way. Last year, over 26 hours were spent breaking the same 1/4 stretch of the river, a testament to perseverance and tenacity of this very difficult Coast Guard mission.
Coast Guard Cutters Shackle and Tackle break ice and create sea smoke along the Penobscot River in Brewer, Maine, Feb. 11, 2014. Both 65-foot cutters broke through the nearly 20-inch thick ice to allow open water to flow. Sea smoke is formed when the water temperature is much warmer than the surrounding air. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Rob Simpson)
CAPT Gilda commented "Thank you all for joining the trip yesterday. I enjoyed each of your company right along with the thrill of breaking ice. I'm truly honored to work with all of you as leaders of our Auxiliary. It was apparent that the hardworking crews of SHACKLE & TACKLE love to show how they work together as a team to accomplish this challenging Coast Guard mission safely. Thanks again for taking the time and joining our crews." The website below is a link to images taking by the CG Public Affairs specialist, These are hi-resolution and therefore very large (14MB) files:
http://www.dvidshub.net/image/1165819/shackle-and-tackle-icebreaking-penobscot-river
