THE U.S. COAST GUARD Thunder Bay cuts through ice on the Penobscot River on Tuesday. Three Coast Guard ships began breaking ice to help prevent ice jam flooding. Prior to the operation beginning, Coast Guard Lt. David Bourbeau said cold winter temperatures created “a lot more ice than normal” on the river and the ice breakers need to get the waterway open so runoff can flow when the ice starts melting. The Coast Guard said the effort may take as many as three days.