As of 8 am Friday morning the last three long-liners have been escorted out of the ice field off the Northeast Coast of Newfoundland. During this three week operation the Coast Guard seems to have done an exemplary job, and many thanks are due.
Here is what they have accomplished in that time:
- 80 boats were escorted out of the ice out of 100
- 1 boat was lost on the first day or two that the ice closed up and the fleet was trapped
- 31 long-liners were evacuated and 72 non-essential personnel were evacuated by Coast Guard helicopters
- 8 were provided with fuel
- 27 were provided with provisions (they had to pay for the groceries, but not for delivery)!
- some commercial carriers were escorted
- 2-3 ferry routes were kept open at least intermittently
- no one died
- I didn’t hear about any major injuries
As of this morning the Grenfell was in the strait of Belle Isle, the Larsen and the Pearkes were near New World Island, and the Ann Harvey was east of Cape Freels. The Terry Fox was north of Cape Freels. At least some of these will be heading home soon, but they may have to keep ferry routes open.
