Federal data shows that 15% of the Great Lakes are covered in ice. Around this time last year that number was around 2%.
One Great Lakes shipping company says that 11 of their ships have been affected by the weather this season.
Eric Peace is with the Lake Carriers' Association, a group that represents Great Lakes shipping companies. He says that both the U-S and Canadian Coast Guards have limited ice breaking resources.
"There was a little bit of a surprise, I think, to both the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard, and there was only three icebreakers available from that two…almost a two-week period."
The U.S. Coast Guard says ice breakers have helped escort six shipping vessels to their destinations since Friday.
