Worst ice conditions in 20 years
22 July 2015 – A carefully planned, 115-day scientific expedition on the Canadian icebreaker CCGS Amundsen has been put on hold as the vessel was called to help resupply ships navigate heavy ice on the eastern side of Hudson Bay.
“Obviously it has a large impact on us,” says Martin Fortier, executive director of ArcticNet, which coordinates research on the vessel. “It’s a frustrating situation.”
During the summer, ArcticNet utilizes the Amundsen as a floating research center, running experiments 24 hours a day.
Worst ice conditions in 20 years
Johnny Leclair, assistant commissioner for the Coast Guard, said Tuesday conditions in the area are the worst he’s seen in 20 years.
With only two icebreakers available in the Arctic — the CCGS Pierre Radisson has been escorting resupply ships through ice-choked Frobisher Bay — he said the only option was to re-deploy the Amundsen
Thanks to Jim S and Laurel for this link
Notes: In the above photo, the CCGS Pierre Radisson escorts an oil tanker through the ice to Iqaluit on July 17, where heavy ice has delayed this summer’s annual resupply. Photo courtesy Canadian Dept. of Fisheries & Oceans (DFO)
According to their website, “the objective of ArcticNet is to study the impacts of climate change and modernization in the coastal Canadian Arctic.”
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