Cuomo: New-ice breaking tugboat to clear ice & help prevent shoreline flooding along Niagara River

‘Breaker II’ to work on installation of Lake Erie-Niagara River ice boom to keep Niagara River free of large ice floes for safety, clean hydropower generation

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday welcomed a new ice-breaking tugboat designated to work in the Niagara River to help alleviate shoreline flooding and reduce the likelihood of ice limiting the power production at large hydroplants along the Niagara River. The "Breaker II" joins a fleet of three boats that work every winter to install the Lake Erie-Niagara River Ice Boom – a series of 22 spans of steel pontoons that straddle the mouth of the Niagara River and work to prevent large ice formations from traveling up river.

"The Breaker II tugboat will play a vital role in generating power and mitigating the impacts of shoreline flooding along the Niagara River," Cuomo. "In just a few short months, this boat will help install the region's iconic ice boom, which will help prevent large ice flows from inhibiting the generation of clean hydroelectricity to power our state, and limit ice build-ups that can cause shoreline flooding."

"It's been a tough couple of years for our waterfront communities with flooding last year and the impact of COVID-19 this year," Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul added. "We are committed to finding smart solutions to help mitigate flooding and help our shoreline communities build back better. The new Breaker II tugboat will be used for ice-cutting operations in the Niagara River to keep the river free from ice and prevent ice jams and flooding. This is part of our overall efforts to prepare for future high-water events and help to ensure our communities have the resources they need to be more resilient and sustainable in the future."

The Breaker II was custom designed for the New York Power Authority for the unique role that it will play in controlling ice buildup in the Niagara River. In August, the boat traveled from the shipyard where it was custom built in Rhode Island, through the New York State Canal System and recently arrived at its permanent Buffalo home.

John R. Koelmel, NYPA Chairman, said, "As a lifelong resident of the Buffalo-Niagara Region, I take great pride in knowing that the ice boom is being installed each year by the Power Authority and our international partners across the river. It's a privilege to be here at the very beginning of this boat's career as the new chief ice boom installer and ice breaker. Indeed, the Breaker II has important work before her, to keep the river flowing so that NYPA can facilitate clean power production. This little boat has a big job and we, at NYPA, are very pleased to have her join our fleet."

Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO, said, "I am very proud of the Power Authority staff who work to install and remove the ice boom every year under very hazardous conditions. With special features that are especially designed for the unique and dangerous work of the ice-breaker tug, we are confident this versatile boat will make the work easier on our crews. We are thrilled to have the Breaker II join NYPA's ice breaking and ice boom installation team."

The Breaker II's primary job will be to install and remove the Niagara Ice boom, but in consideration of the harsh winter conditions in which it works, it has a bow made with high-grade steel for ice-breaking capability. Together with the ice boom, the boat will help to diminish the probability of large-scale ice blockages in the river, which can cause flooding, damage to docks and shore structures on the Niagara River and reductions of flow to the hydroelectric power plant intakes.

A press release said, “The ability to generate hydropower is dependent on keeping the Niagara River running. During the winter months when subzero temperatures produce an ice cover on Lake Erie, keeping the river running can be challenging. Winter winds on Lake Erie frequently push chunks of ice into the upper Niagara River where they flow downstream and tend to jam and can obstruct water intakes for the region's hydroelectric projects. To maintain river flows, NYPA and Ontario Power Generation conduct a carefully coordinated ice management operation that includes regular icebreaker patrols, continual surveillance of river conditions and the use of the Lake Erie-Niagara River Ice Boom.”

The International Joint Commission, a binational body created under the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty between the U.S. and Canada, has jurisdiction over the Lake Erie – Niagara River ice boom in the boundary waters between the two countries. The IJC’s International Niagara Board of Control oversees the annual installation, operation, removal and maintenance of the boom, which can take about a week. Workers from the New York Power Authority perform the ice boom work for both power entities and are reimbursed by Ontario Power Generation.

The Breaker II was designed by the Bristol Harbor Group Inc. of Bristol, Rhode Island, and fabricated by Blount Boats of Warren Rhode Island. The cost of the vessel is shared by NYPA and OPG.