SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — The U.S. Coast Guard has news for local "boat nerds" and all those who love to see the big boats traversing the St. Marys River.
The Coast Guard on Monday issued three-day notices for the opening of local waterways to shipping traffic.
The Captain of the Port Sector Northern Great Lakes will open the South Channel effective at noon on Thursday.
Vessel Traffic Service St. Marys River will open the Pipe Island Passage between Detour Village and Drummond Island, Mich., effective at 8 a.m. on Thursday.
The Pipe Island Course will return to one-way traffic, the Coast Guard said.
"The Coast Guard recommends that members of the public who recreate on the ice to plan their activities carefully, use caution on the ice, and stay away from charted shipping channels," the marine service said in a news release.
"Ice breaking activity weakens the ice far beyond the tracks created by the icebreakers."