GLIN==> Last ships pass through Soo Locks as season ends

Submitted by Cassandra Kardeke <cassandra.a.kardeke at usace.army.mil>


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Last ships pass through Soo Locks as season ends

Detroit — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District announced today 
the seasonal closing of the Soo Locks in Sault Sainte Marie, Mich., at 
midnight last night. The Corps has operated and maintained the locks as part 
of its navigation mission since 1881 and will use the downtime to perform 
maintenance on the lock structures and channels.

The 858 ft. vessel Roger Blough cleared the lower gates of the Poe Lock at 
6:33 p.m. January 15, heading down bound with 41,100 tons of taconite.  The 
Great Lakes carrier Blough is the last vessel through the locks marking the 
official closing to vessel traffic.

The total cargo carrier tonnage amounts were down a little more than 33 
percent as compared to last year with iron ore being the most frequent cargo 
carried through the locks. More than eight billon tons of cargo have passed 
through the locks since 1855.

During the lock closure, the Soo crews will be working on providing 
maintenance to the Poe Lock which entails sandblasting and painting, 
completing plumbing and preventative maintenance on the hydraulic system and 
associated components, repairing parts on safety booms, replacing fender 
timbers, and other general maintenance.

The locks will reopen to ship traffic on March 25 at 12:01 a.m.

For additional information or questions on the Soo Locks, please call the 
Soo Area Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at (906) 632-3311 or 
call the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District  Public Affairs 
Officer, Lynn Duerod at (313) 226-4680.

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