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Winter Lock Down: It was a three-for-one end to the shipping season at the Soo Locks on Jan. 16 (last Saturday) when three boats huddled up to go through the Poe Lock before the winter shutdown. “Leading the way is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tug Owen M. Frederick followed by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Biscayne Bay and the 635-foot-long Sam Laud. The Laud surprised many boat watchers by sneaking out of the steel mill behind the Indiana Harbor to pass through the Poe Lock this afternoon,” the Corps posted. The Soo Locks close until March 25 for repairs and maintenance. The MacArthur Lock, the only other operating U.S. lock on Lake Superior along with the Poe, shut down in December for work. Usually the locks lockdown at midnight, but the Corps kept the Poe open for any ships able to reach the Detour Passage before midnight on the 15th. I Love Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan posted a lovely video of the ships heading in and out. In the Twin Ports, five boats will be overwintering – one more than last season. The last ship into the port was American Century about 1:30 p.m. on Monday (Jan. 17). In Thunder Bay, the departure of the MV Manitoulin with a shipment of wheat ended that port’s season and four vessels will lay up in Thunder Bay for the winter.
Fund Stuff: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers posted a graphic review of 2021 showing accomplishments during the year. The Soo Locks and Lake Superior Maritime visitor centers both did well with visitation outside and inside, despite a shortened season (in Duluth, the center did not open to the public until July).
An Artistic View: International maritime artist Dirk Verdoorn of Lecce, Italy, visited our region as part of a major Great Lakes trip back in 2017. This week he re-posted one of his paintings from that journey. He verified for us that this was indeed the Twin Ports, where “Minnesota touches Wisconsin.” We’ve followed his posts for quite awhile and he captures the often-impressive vessels beautifully. Lovely and inspiring work, Dirk, as always.
Surf’s Up!: The Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area in Ontario posted this image just a couple days after Christmas with this encouraging note: “You’ve hiked the coast, you’ve paddled the shores, you’ve sailed among the islands… but have you surfed Lake
Continue to read this article in Lake Superior Magazine.
