Shipping and Logistics

March 26, 2015
Soo Locks Open On Snowy Day in Sault Ste. Marie
Written by Sandy Williams
A blustery March 25th marked the beginning of the Great Lakes shipping season and the opening of the Soo Locks. The first lake freighter to enter the Locks was the Edwin H. Gott from Great Lakes Fleet Inc. The Gott, named for the former US Steel chairman and CEO, entered the Locks at 11:05 a.m. on Wednesday on its upbound voyage to Duluth, Minn.
The Gott was prevented by heavy ice from continuing through the Poe Lock and had to back out and wait for assistance by the US Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw. The Poe is one of four parallel locks on the St. Mary canal that comprise the Soo Locks system, allowing ships to navigate the 21 foot drop between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes


