Rep. Delgado Joins Coast Guard on Ice-Breaking Mission Along the Hudson River

Statement

Yesterday, U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) joined Captain Zeita Merchant, Lieutenant Commander Swaim and the U.S. Coast Guard for an ice-breaking mission on the upper Hudson River. From December through March, the Coast Guard conducts ice-breaking operations on the Hudson River and other waterways in the Northeast. They ram through ice up to 30 inches thick, making multiple passes through the ice fields, in order to break the frozen river into small chunks. This allows barges to navigate the frigid river and deliver vital home heating supplies to upstate New York families.

"I was honored to join Captain Zeita Merchant, Lieutenant Commander Swaim, and the U.S. Coast Guard to witness an ice-breaking mission on the Hudson River," said Rep. Delgado. "These operations break up frozen waterways and allow commercial vessels to navigate frigid waters and deliver vital resources to our communities during the winter. Thanks to the Coast Guard and ice-breaking missions, millions of people across the country can heat their homes during harsh conditions and freezing temperatures."

"Coast Guard Sector New York and the crew of the icebreaking tug, SURGEON BAY were privileged to have Congressman Delgado aboard in support of OPERATION REILIABLE ENERGY for NORTHEAST WINTERS (OP-RENEW), a region-wide effort to ensure Northeast communities have the security, supplies, energy, and emergency resources they need throughout the winter by providing both proactive and reactive icebreaking and aids to navigation maintenance along the Hudson River," said Captain Zeita Merchant, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York. "Northeast communities use more than 85% of the Nation's home heating oil, and 90% of that is delivered by water; therefore, keeping our maritime transportation system open is absolutely essential during the winter months. This season alone, Coast Guard ice-breakers (capable of breaking up to 27" of ice with 1 foot of snow cover) have kept the Hudson River open allowing for the safe transit of vessels delivering over 460 million gallons home heating oil and 581,000 metric tons of cargo to the citizens of the Hudson Valley."

Source