Viking at the Museum: The Ice Breaker Mackinaw

On December 17, 1941- just 10 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor- the United States Congress approved the construction of the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw WAGB-83. The purpose of the ship was to forge a path for transport ships by breaking up thick ice that formed on the Great Lakes during frigid winter months. This allowed iron ore, limestone, and coal to be transported keeping vital war materials in production[1].

Weighing in at over 5,200 tons with a length of 290 feet, the Mackinaw needed 276,000 gallons of diesel fuel to endure winter seasons. Mackinaw worked faithfully for 62 years before retiring in 2006 at which point it became the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum.

But are there really Viking Pumps aboard this great old ship just as my intuition suggested?

Upon my return to the office, I eagerly grabbed the ear of resident pump expert, Chad Wunderlich, “Do you know if there are any Viking pumps on the ice breaker Mackinaw?”

“Let me check,” Chad responded.

A mere thirty minutes later, Chad presented me with an article dating back to 1945, previously published in the Viking Vacuum (a historical Viking Pump publication).

In the article, the installation of nine total pumps was described on the Ice Breaker Mackinaw. The pumps ranged in function from diesel fuel transfer and lube oil transfer, to pressure lubrication.

Figure 2 displays a ZHLH. This pump is so old that nobody I asked at Viking Pump has even heard of it. There were six of these pumps aboard the Mackinaw at the time it was built.

The propellers played a critical role in the breaking of large sheets of ice. According to the Ice Breaker Mackinaw fact sheet, “The Mackinaw’s innovative 12’ bow propeller – weighing 7.2 tons – draws water from under the ice causing it to weaken and sag under its own weight and then, when crushed by the force and the weight of the ship, sends it streaming along both sides of the ship reducing friction.[2] ”

With the propellers’ significant role in breaking ice and maintaining a clear path across the lakes, keeping bearings lubricated was of upmost importance.

Figure 3 (the AJ281 lube oil transfer pump) and Figure 4 (a model LQ281 unit) were both utilized for the engine of the ship. An engine this size requires two very important things: fuel and lubricant. These crucial roles were entrusted to Viking pumps.

The importance of having reliable lube oil supply on board the Mackinaw should not be understated; Lube oil is key in heat control, contamination control, rust prevention, and energy transfer.

I think it’s important to emphasize how mission-critical this service is when you’re the only ship out there, cutting the shipping lane rather than being a ship that uses it (though many of those were likely fitted with Viking pumps too).

All in all, there have been thousands of Viking pumps built for marine vessels around the world. Whether you’re patrolling the ocean or trying to break ice on the Great Lakes amidst a war, you want to be certain that your equipment isn’t going to let you down. That’s why Viking Pump was the choice in 1945 and why it’s still the best choice in 2021.

Interested in seeing more Viking pumps at museums? Check out a longer list on our previous post Viking Pumps at the Museum and see what you can fit in to your next vacation!