Philip R. Clarke ends 2023-24 Soo Locks season
Sault Ste. Marie, MI – The 1952-built steamer Philip R. Clarke, captained by Scott Hein, closed
the 2023-24 Soo Locks season when she passed downbound on a sunny but cold Tuesday
morning bound from Two Harbors, MN, to Conneaut, OH, with taconite pellets. Once unloaded,
she will winter at Toledo.
Boatwatchers at Mission Point were treated to a full salute, complete with cheers from those
on the boat and on the shore. A placard placed at engine room door by the chief engineer Kate
Walheim, proclaimed “If you ain’t first, you’re last!”
She was followed closely by the tug Shirley Ann and barge, headed for Cheboygan, MI, for the
winter. The pair spent the season working on the New Lock project at the Soo.
The Soo Locks will remain closed through 12:01 a.m. March 25 to perform seasonal critical
maintenance. The Soo Locks’ other operating lock, the MacArthur Lock closed for the
Navigation Season at 7 a.m. on December 17 and will remain closed through April 24, 2024.
Federal regulation (33 CFR 207.440) establishes the operating season based on the feasibility of
vessels operating during typical Great Lakes ice conditions.
“Every year, the Corps of Engineers uses the non-navigation winter period to perform
maintenance and keep the Soo Locks operating,” Maintenance Branch Chief Nicholas Pettit
said. “The Detroit District team works long hours in extreme conditions to complete a
significant amount of maintenance during this annual closure period. The work they perform is
unique, especially given the harsh northern Michigan winter conditions they work in.”
The team will install a temporary panel bridge across the Poe Lock. This panel bridge will
provide the ability to mobilize materials and equipment to the job sites throughout the winter
closure.
Maintenance crews will complete structural inspections, maintenance and install lifting lugs on
the upstream miter gate. On the downstream miter gates. crews will install anchorage
components and complete critical structural repairs. Major rehabilitation will continue on the
Poe Lock’s upstream and downstream ship arrestor systems.
The miter gates are the large gates serving as dams at each end of the lock chamber, sealing the
chamber and allowing the water level to be raised and lowered in the chamber.
Additionally, crews will perform a wide range of other maintenance tasks from replacement of
pier fender timbers to inspections and preventative maintenance on electrical and mechanical
systems on both Poe and MacArthur Locks.
“With the winter temperatures being more mild than previous years, the Soo Operations team
has been proactively prepping for the non-navigation season,” Soo Locks Operations Manager
LeighAnn Ryckeghem said. “Every year weather poses challenges and adds intensity to
maintenance, the team is highly skilled and equipped to safely execute critical projects that
allow for continued operational reliability during the navigation season,”
Contractors are currently working on the Poe Lock ship arrestor project. OCCI of Missouri, was
awarded the contract in July 2021, for $17.5 million after awarded options. This winter the
company is primarily completing the rehabilitation of the upstream arrestor, installing the new
arrestor machinery and replacing the arrestor boom.
View a video, with a salute, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAM1MaGZUBI
With Soo Locks closed, winter work starts at Fraser
Superior, WI – The Soo Locks closed on Tuesday morning after the Philip R. Clarke made it
through. She was the last downbound vessel, and was carrying iron ore from the Northland.
“We are never eager to see the ships stop moving. But it was a successful season,” shared
Jayson Hron, Director of Marketing and Communication for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.
A total of eight vessels will winter in the Twin Ports. Five are still on their way, so boat lovers
can expect a few more arrivals. They’ll all get work at Fraser Shipyards in Superior.
Hron added, “With those eight ships in port for winter layup, that brings lots of work for the
skilled tradespeople throughout the region. About 110 to 140 skilled tradespeople will be
employed doing the work on these eight ships that are wintering here this off season.”
The Lee A. Tregurtha and Manitoulin are at Fraser now. Baie Comeau is at the Clure Public
Marine Terminal.
WDIO
Coast Guard closing West Neebish Channel, Pipe Island Passage
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — Following the closure of the Soo Locks, Per 33 CFR 162.117,
Director VTS St Marys River will close the West Neebish Channel effective 1400 local time
January 19. Alternating one-way traffic will be established in the Munuscong and Middle
Neebish Channels. The Coast Guard would like to remind all recreational ice users to plan their
activity carefully, use caution on the ice, and stay away from shipping channels.
In addition, in accordance with 33 CFR 162.117, Vessel Traffic Service St. Marys River will close
Pipe Island Passage (East of Pipe Island Shoal and North of Pipe Island Twins from Watson Reef
Light to Sweets Point). The channel will close effective 1400 EST January 19. The Pipe Island
Course will become alternating one-way traffic.
USCG
Winter lay-up list is now active
You can monitor our annual lay-up listing page here: https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/winter-lay-up-list-2023-2024/
The page will be updated throughout the winter. Please send lay-up reports to news@boatnerd.net.
