MILWAUKEE — The Coast Guard will commence spring ice breaking operations in Sturgeon Bay, Friday.

During the coming weeks, these icebreaking operations will increase in frequency as ice conditions deteriorate and commercial navigation increases. Ice breaking will eventually expand into the bay of Green Bay, to the port cities of Menominee, Escanaba, and Green Bay.

On Wednesday, the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw plans to enter the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal from Lake Michigan and moor at the Municipal Pier at Sawyer Park.

Friday morning, Mackinaw will sail west to Sturgeon Bay, adjacent to Sherwood Point, to create a “turning circle” in the ice. This area of broken ice will enable local tugs to turn around commercial ships departing the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding Facility, allowing those large vessels to sail for Lake Michigan using the ship canal, avoiding the tough ice conditions in the bay of Green Bay.