The littoral combat ship USS Little Rock has been stuck in Montreal since Christmas Eve instead of its new home port of Jacksonville, Florida, reported The Toronto Star.
"The temperatures in Montreal and throughout the transit area have been colder than normal, and included near-record low temperatures, which created significant and historical conditions in the late December, early January timeframe," said Lt. Cmdr. Courtney Hillson in a phone interview, the Toronto Star reported.
"Keeping the ship in Montreal until waterways are clear ensures the safety of the ship and crew, and will have limited impact on the ship's operational schedule," Hillson said.
The ship has been provided with temporary heaters and 16 de-icers to cut down on ice accumulation on the ship's hull, Hillson told the Toronto Star.
No departure date from Montreal has been scheduled, but Hillson said that mid-March is a good time frame for ice in the St. Lawrence Seaway to melt enough for the ship to navigate it safely.
The Navy considered using icebreakers to get the ship free from the ice prior to the decision to keep the ship in Montreal, Hillson said, The Washington Post reported.
"Safety is our top priority — the safety of our sailors and the safety of our ship," Hillson said.
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