The Amphibex icebreaking team is beginning work on the Red River north of Selkirk, kicking off the 2013 ice-jam prevention program. This announcement was made by Premier Greg Selinger.
“Ice-jam-related flooding can develop quickly and without warning. Working 24 hours a day, our icebreaking machines and personnel make us world leaders in ice-jam prevention,” said Selinger. “These machines, and the 28 dedicated people who operate them, work to protect thousands of Manitoba families and their properties and are an important part of our overall flood-fighting efforts.”
Ice cutting began last week in a specialized grid pattern to weaken the ice so the Amphibex machines can more efficiently break the ice and enable its movement to prevent jamming, the premier said.
“At between 24 and 30 inches, the ice is thicker than we’ve see in previous years,” said Selinger. “The significant investments we made last year in bolstering our Amphibex fleet with enhanced structural strength and hydraulics for improved icebreaking capability will serve us well this season.”
The 24-ton Amphibex machines are breaking through the ice on areas of the Red River that have seen ice jamming in the past. If ice-jamming issues develop on other rivers in the province, the Amphibex icebreakers can be transported to those areas by heavy trucks. Two-person crews pilot the vessels with safety and support crews nearby. Global positioning systems have been installed on the ice cutters to track exactly where the cuts have been made.
The provincial ice-mitigation fleet consists of four Amphibex AE 400 icebreaking machines, seven ice cutting machines, and six amphibious transport and support vehicles. The Amphibex icebreakers are maintained by North Red Community Water Maintenance Inc., formed with provincial assistance by the rural municipalities of St. Andrews and St. Clements and the City of Selkirk. The Amphibex was first used in Manitoba in 2006. At that time, the provincial fleet was able to crush about six kilometres of river ice each year. Since then, improvements to the fleet allow more than 25 km to be crushed annually.
Notices have been posted in areas where the Amphibex machines will be working as a safety reminder for ice fishers, snowmobile enthusiasts and river users. River users are reminded to clear away any ice-fishing huts or other material in the areas covered by the ice-mitigation program.
