William H. Latham (icebreaker)

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The William H. Latham is a 77 ton icebreaker owned and operated by the New York Power Authority on the Niagara River.[1][2] Her mission is to keep the Power Authority's inlet ports clear of ice. She was built in 1987. She is powered by a 625 horsepower engine. She is staffed by a crew of three. During emergencies two crews have worked twelve-hour shifts to keep the vessel at work twenty-four hours a day.

The vessel's design and construction was overseen by Randy D. Crissman.[3] She is named after William H. Latham a senior engineer with the Power Authority who died earlier that year.[4]

Ontario Hydro operates a similar vessel, the Niagara Queen, to clear the inlet ports for hydroelectric power generators on the Canadian side.[5] The Latham is assisted by a second vessel, a modified tugboat, known only as Breaker.

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