Wilfred-Sykes

The US Coast Guard has deployed two icebreakers in recent days to aid shipping. On the Lake Erie, the 'American Spirit' requested assistance on Jan 21, 2026 The vessel was making slow headway but was not stuck, The Coastguard Cutter 'Neah Bay' was dispatched to the 'American Spirit'. It helped by breaking the ice, and the vessel was back underway by midday. The USCG escorted the vessel, and it reached Toledo, where it is going into winter layup. On Jan 15, the 'Neah Bay' had already been directed to assist the 'Lee A. Tregurtha'. The cutter aided in getting the vessel through six to eight inches of brash ice in the St. Marys River and to proceed to the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. It was the last day of the season for the Soo Locks, which were closing for the winter navigation season. The Coastguard Cutter 'Mackinaw' was called out on Lake Huron on Jan 21, to free the 'Wilfred Sykes' from the ice. It was escorted into the Straits of Mackinac. Report with photos and video: https://maritime-executive.com/article/uscg-icebreakers-aid-great-lakes-shipping-as-arctic-front-ices-the-lakes

While downbound at the Soo Locks on May 29, 2025, at around 1 p.m., headed for the MacArthur Lock, the 'Wilfred Sykes' went crosswise above the MacArthur and Poe locks. There were no reports of damages, and there has been no official reason given, although waterfront report indicate currents may have been to blame. After getting squared away, the 'Wilfred Sykes' continued the voyage to Indiana Harbor, but later radioed Soo Traffic that they may have rolled a boulder in the Rock Cut further down river. The downbound vessels 'CSL St. Laurent' and 'Edgar B. Speer' were stopped at the locks, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ survey vessel Bufe was dispatched to the scene to look for any obstructions. None were found, and downbound traffic could be resumed just after 8 p.m.

On Jan 6, 2025, the former 'Wilfred Sykes', en route from Sailt Ste. Marie, suffered engine trouble on the Lake Superior. The 'Joseph L. Block' (IMO: 7502320) assisted the ship to an Anchorage in the sheltered Batchawana Bay, Ontario, where it was moored in pos. 46° 56' N 084° 33' W.

The 'Wilfred Sykes' had to be freed from Lake Huron, near the mouth of the St. Clair River, in the early morning of Nov 26, 2021. She was downbound near the Blue Water Bridge when suffering a mechanical failure and lost control of the steering at around 11:30 p.m. on Nov 25. The pilot dropped anchor to prevent a collision with the U.S. seawall near the Coast Guard Station. The ship did not run aground and was freed shortly before 3 a.m. with the help of the tug 'Manitou'. The vessel was anchored in the American waters of Lake Huron, approximately 8-10 kilometres offshore. The crew was checking over all systems, and the vessel remained at anchor until cleared to depart by the USCG Sector Detroit. Report with photos: https://blackburnnews.com/sarnia/sarnia-news/2021/11/26/steamship-freed-lake-huron-gallery/