WASHINGTON – Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) today applauded legislation recommending that the Coast Guard acquire an icebreaking vessel to replace the soon-to-be decommissioned ACACIA Coast Guard Cutter. 

“I’m extremely pleased to see Congressional support for keeping a cutter in northern Lake Michigan,” Stupak said.  “My hope is that the Coast Guard would keep a vessel in Charlevoix.  The ACACIA has provided essential navigational search and rescue services, servicing nearly 200 buoys and lighthouses and keeping the channels free of ice.”

The recommendation to the Coast Guard came as part of a larger Coast Guard reauthorization package that also contains provisions to maintain at current levels icebreaking capabilities across the Great Lakes.  The language demonstrates strong Congressional support for retaining an icebreaking vessel in northern Lake Michigan.

Stupak worked throughout the legislative process to see that the bill addressed the ACACIA issue.   The legislation specifically acknowledges that maintaining a vessel with icebreaking capabilities is particularly important because the Canadian government has decommissioned one of its buoy tenders, which will increase demands on U.S. icebreakers. 

“Maintaining an icebreaking tug in Charlevoix will help maintain commercial shipping in Northern Michigan,” Stupak said.  “I'm glad to see Congress send this clear signal to the Coast Guard that there is a need to keep sufficient ice breaking assets on the Great Lakes.”

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