William H. Latham (icebreaker)

William H. Latham is a 77-ton icebreaker owned and operated by the New York Power Authority on the Niagara River.[1][2][3] It was named after William H. Latham, a senior engineer with the Power Authority who died in 1987.[4] The ship's mission is to keep the Power Authority's inlet ports clear of ice. Occasionally, she is used to break open the Buffalo river or the Lake Erie ice boom for emergency repairs. William H. Latham has been used for DEC fish stocking out of the Dunkirk Harbor, search and rescue for downed aircraft, and search duties for missing hikers on frozen Lake Erie.

Icebreaker William H. Latham at Niagara Falls, NY
William H. Latham
History
Namesake: William H. Latham
Owner: New York Power Authority
Launched: 1987
Identification:
General characteristics
Tonnage: 77 tons
Installed power: 2 × Caterpillar 3412, 625 hp (466 kW)
Crew: 3

During emergencies two crews work alternating twelve-hour shifts to keep the vessel functioning twenty-four hours a day.

The vessel's design and construction was overseen by Randy D. Crissman.[5]

William H. Latham is assisted by a second vessel, a modified tugboat, known only as Breaker.

Ontario Hydro operates a similar vessel, Niagara Queen, to clear the inlet ports for hydroelectric power generators on the Canadian side.[1][6]

References
  1. "BREAKING ICE: A History of Ice Breaking on the Niagara River". December 4, 2014.
  2. Miner, Dan (February 14, 2008). "Power Authority: Storm puts NYPA on ice". Niagara Gazette. Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
  3. "Niagara Power Project". New York Power Authority. Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
  4. "William Latham, 83; Guided Niagara Project". Obituaries. New York Times. January 19, 1987. Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
  5. Saltzman, Michael (December 15, 2003). "Power Authority Appoints Regional Manager for Western New York, Niagara Project" (Press release). New York Power Authority. Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
  6. McMillan, D (1995). "Design, construction, and operation of Niagara River icebreakers". Marine Technology. 32 (2): 101–108.


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