SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — The Poe Lock in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan opened to all marine traffic at 6 p.m. on March 22, marking the start of the 2024 Great Lakes shipping season.
An early season opening was requested by the shipping industry due to the urging of major steel producers. “The St. Lawrence Seaway announced that it would open this spring on March 22. We wanted to match that early opening at the Soo,” said James Weakley, President of the Lake Carriers’ Association. “We also noted that the Seaway strike in 2023 and extreme wind events toward the end of the last operating season left the fleet with undelivered cargo.”
“Our winter maintenance period was a critical time for us to invest in our aging locks,” stated Detroit District Commander Lt. Col. Brett Boyle. “This year, a number of factors worked in our favor, allowing us to safely deliver this critical maintenance and also open to navigation traffic a few days early, along with the St. Lawrence Seaway.”
Federal regulation (33 CFR 207.440) established the operating season based on the feasibility of vessels operating during typical Great Lakes ice conditions.
The locks officially closed after the last vessel of the 2023 season on January 16, to undergo critical repairs and maintenance during the 10-week-long winter shutdown. Maintenance crews performed a variety of critical tasks on the Poe Lock, including structural inspections, maintenance, and installation of lifting lugs on the upstream miter gate. On the downstream miter gates, crews installed anchorage components and completed critical structural repairs. Major rehabilitation continued on the Poe Lock’s upstream and downstream ship arrestor systems. “We worked hard to accelerate work upfront during our annual closure, with crews working extended days and hours to optimize the short time available for critical maintenance and repairs,” said Maintenance Branch Chief Nicholas Pettit. “Due to the hard work of our maintenance crews and some mild weather, we were able to accomplish all required work ahead of schedule.”
The MacArthur Lock, located south of the Poe, remained closed for maintenance until April 24.
