Eight American senators from the Great Lakes area are pushing for federal funding for a new icebreaking vessel. Currently there is only one heavy icebreaker operating on the five lakes, which can result in heavy delays for shipping in winter.

The senators claim that lack of icebreakers and the subsequent backlog of ships waiting to move cargoes cost the American economy $355m last year.

Meteorologists in North America are anticipating a particularly harsh winter this year.