# Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2021

During winter months, ice builds up on the Great Lakes and makes it difficult or impossible for cargo ships to move goods. This bill requires the U.S. Coast Guard to keep shipping channels open by conducting regular icebreaking operations so that commercial vessels can continue operating through the frozen season.

Specifically, the Coast Guard must keep ice-covered waterways open to navigation at least 90 percent of the time when ships are trying to pass through. In extremely severe winters—the kind that only happen about once every decade—the requirement drops to 70 percent. The bill also requires the Coast Guard to work with shipping companies to coordinate these icebreaking efforts and to report annually to Congress about how many hours their icebreakers spent clearing ice in different parts of the Great Lakes, including areas shared with Canada.

The bill affects shipping companies and workers in the Great Lakes region who depend on winter commerce. By keeping waterways more reliably open, it allows cargo ships to continue delivering goods like iron ore, coal, and grain throughout the winter instead of waiting until spring. This supports jobs and keeps supply chains moving. The bill also increases funding for acquiring new icebreakers from $160 million to $350 million, allowing the Coast Guard to build or purchase more powerful ships to handle the job more effectively. The Coast Guard is given some flexibility to speed up the icebreaker purchase process without going through the normal lengthy competitive bidding procedures.

Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2021

Gallagher, Mike

Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2021 This bill directs the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct icebreaking operations in the Great Lakes in accordance with specific performance standards. Specifically, the Coast Guard must <ul> <li>keep channels and harbors in the Great Lakes open to navigation not less than 90% of the hours that commercial vessels and ferries attempt to transit ice-covered waterways;</li> <li> in a year in which the Great Lakes are not open to navigation because of ice of a thickness that occurs on average only once every 10 years, keep channels and harbors open to navigation at least 70% of the hours that commercial vessels and ferries attempt to transit ice-covered waterways; and</li> <li>coordinate Great Lakes icebreaking operations with operators of commercial vessels.</li> </ul> The bill also directs the Coast Guard to acquire a Great Lakes icebreaker that is at least as capable as Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw in an accelerated timeframe and award the contract on the basis of contractor qualification and price.