Her second mission was icebreaking, a service she performed throughout her career. One aspect of her icebreaking work was to free ships that became trapped in the ice. In January 1945, for example, the freighter "James Watt" with a cargo of coal for the Ford River Rogue factory became ice-bound in Lake Erie. She struggled to free herself for two days without success. "Acacia" freed her within a half-hour of her arrival. In a similar case, she freed two tankers and a collier from Lake Erie ice in December 1951. A second icebreaking role was to escort ships through the ice, breaking a channel for the ship following her. This service was not without risk. On April 1, 1954 "Acacia" was leading the tanker "L. S. Westcoat" through the ice when she was rammed in the stern by her charge. The hulls of both vessels were damaged. A third icebreaking activity was to clear shipping lanes for future ship traffic. "Acacia" cleared ice in Lake Erie, the Straits of Mackinac, Lake St. Claire, and the Saint Claire River.