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Ice cutter navigates St. Mary's River

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SAULT STE. MARIE, MI (AP)--   The U.S. Coast Guard says ice-breaking operations have begun on the St. Mary's River in the Eastern Upper Peninsula.  

The Cutter Biscayne Bay is working to aid commercial shipping on the river, which separates Michigan from the Canadian province of Ontario.

Over the weekend the 140-foot cutter came to the aid of a stranded steamship and a combined tug-barge vessel.  The Biscayne Bay on Saturday broke ice to loosen its grip on the 1,000-foot Presque Isle just south of Neebish Island in the St. Mary's River.  The cutter on Sunday also assisted the 762-foot steamship St. Clair in the river.  Officials say the vessels were blocking the navigational channel and freeing them paved the way for about a half-dozen more.

Additional vessels will be used as needed.  The work continues through mid-January.  

The Coast Guard says snowmobilers and all-terrain vehicle operators should avoid using the shipping channels.