U.S. Coast Guard/CWN
BARNSTABLE – The Coast Guard launched its icebreaking season this week in anticipation of the winter’s cold weather.
As part of Operation Reliable Energy for Northeast Winters (OpRENEW), the Coast Guard will be maintaining region-wide efforts to keep the Northeast supplied through the waterways and powered throughout the winter.
The Northeast consumes over 85% of the heating oil used by the country, with 90% of it being delivered along waterways that the Coast Guard maintains.
To aid in travel, the Coast Guard will also replace existing aids to navigation with specially designed ice buoys that will “ride underneath the ice and remain on location”, they said in a statement.
The Coast Guard said that it will be doing everything reasonable within its ability to minimize waterway closures over the winter, as well as allow transit for commercial vessels through ice-covered, critical channels.
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