While the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mobile Bay undergoes a major retrofitting over the winter, the Sturgeon Bay-based crew remains busy. The 140-foot cutter has been out of service since late summer of 2018 for a service life extension program. Lieutenant Junior Grade Joseph Zarlengo says the 30 crew members are still putting their ice-breaking skills to good use and making sure the aids to navigation barge used by Mobile Bay will be ready when needed.
Zarlengo says when ice breaking is needed on Green Bay or Lake Michigan there are eight other cutters that can be deployed. Mobile Bay is expected to be back in Sturgeon Bay in September.
