Portland — Rockland-based Coast Guard Cutter Tackle performed ice breaking operations in Rockport on Jan. 4.

The crew of the Tackle were dispatched to the harbor in response to a request from commercial fishermen for Coast Guard ice breaking assistance. Due to ice conditions, fishing vessels were unable to safely transit out of the harbor.

Southwest Harbor-based Cutter Bridle also broke through and flushed ice from one to six inches in thickness in the Penobscot River up to Bangor during ice breaking operations there during the last 48 hours.

Dating back to President Roosevelt's Executive Order 7521 in 1936, the Coast Guard conducts ice breaking operations in ice-covered waterways as resources permit to extricate vessels from danger, mitigate hazardous situations, assist shipping and other reasons. The Coast Guard evaluates specific requests to break ice on a case by case basis, and as operations and resources allow, to help facilitate commerce.

Cutter Tackle turned 50 years old last year and is one of three 65-foot ice breaking tugs homeported in Maine. Cutter Bridle will turn 50 years old this year.

(Courtesy of: Coast Guard Cutter Tackle and Bridle)

(Photo by: Coast Guard Cutter Tackle)