BOSTON
The U.S. Coast Guard said its winter icebreaking season has officially kicked off in the Northeast, starting Dec. 16 through March.
Coast Guard crews are gearing up to begin breaking ice on the Kennebec River from Merrymeeting Bay to Gardiner.
During the annual effort, known as Operation Reliable Energy for Northeast Winters — or, RENEW — the Coast Guard will conduct icebreaking operations to facilitate security operations with ports, waterways and coastal security missions; help prevent loss of life on the water and ashore when impacted by ice; provide urgent response to vessels that are directly impacted by ice; support communities that have need for fuel, food and medical supplies; assist in preventing or easing flood conditions; and to meet the reasonable demands of commerce to facilitate navigation on frozen, navigable waterways.
Coast Guard units throughout the Northeast have been busy preparing for Operation RENEW by conducting training operations and prioritizing efforts. They are also replacing aids to navigation with special aids designed to ride underneath ice floes and remain on location.
Seventy-five percent of all heating oil used in the country is imported through New England, New York and New Jersey. Ninety percent of that is delivered by barges through Coast Guard-protected ports.
During the 2012-13 season, Coast Guard crews logged 1,603 hours of domestic icebreaking, answered 17 official requests for assistance and assisted 37 vessels in need.
Coast Guard Auxiliary crews also flew 37 reconnaissance flights in search of frozen waterways. As a result of these efforts, no waterways were closed and no restrictions were implemented during that icebreaking season, the Coast Guard said.
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