Welland Canal Ice

Welland Ship Canal, Canada.
In the spring, wind driven ice often chokes the southern end of the Welland ship canal that goes between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The Pilot boat is being readied for the start of the shipping season. Ship captains navigating the canal must have a Pilot to help guide them through. Even so, accidents happen, a few years ago a bridge was lowered too quickly crushing the wheel house of Lake Freighter and causing a fire. Before that, a ship lost control and destroyed a bridge at Port Robinson, halfway along the canal. The bridge was never rebuilt, and the town was effectively cut in half.