Welland Canal is set to open for the shipping season this Friday
An opening ceremony will be held Friday to mark the 66th navigation season on the St.
Lawrence Seaway. Ships will start moving at 8 a.m.
The Welland Canal closed for the winter earlier this year on January 7th.
President and CEO Terence Bowles will host U.S. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway
Development Corporation Administrator Adam Tindall-Schlicht and special guests. The
event will be held at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre.
Combined with the eight locks of the Welland Canal, which link Lake Ontario to Lake
Erie, the binational St. Lawrence Seaway’s 15 locks allow ships to travel between
Montreal and Lake Erie.
Indiana Harbor on tap to open Soo Locks
Indiana Harbor left winter lay-up Wednesday morning bound for Two Harbors. After fueling in Detroit, she is expected to be the first passage at the Soo Locks on Friday.
BBC Chartering takes delivery of 10 LakerMax vessels fitted for Great Lakes/Seaway use
Germany’s BBC Chartering has opened the door to a new era with the introduction of a
new 10-strong fleet of heavy-lift, multipurpose vessels.
“The design of the BBC LakerMax ships has been optimized to fit both the St. Lawrence
Seaway and the Great Lakes,” BBC Chartering indicated in the latest edition of its in-
house magazine. Hence all ships bear a Laker identity in the name.
“These cutting-edge triple-deckers represent a significant leap forward in the world of
heavy-lift and project cargo transportation, manifesting our commitment to reliability,
efficiency, and innovation,” the company said.
The ships are equipped with a 6,000 kW MAN B&W engine that offers an eco-friendly
service speed of 15.6 knots, according to BBC Chartering.
The company will take delivery of 10 LakerMax, 13,000 dwt MPPs starting this April until
2026.
The BBC Leer will the first vessel in a series of ships that will be equipped with two
powerful Liebherr LS 250 cranes, capable of lifting up to 500 metric tons with a
maximum hoist of 36.0 meters. The crew accommodation and bridge are at the front of
the ship, while all on-deck facilities are located on the portside. This design allows for an
unobstructed weather deck of 2,830 square meters.
With a nominal TEU capacity of 970 containers and certified to operate with open hatch
covers, the BBC LakerMax vessels have two box-shaped cargo holds, which can
accommodate up to 25,795 cubic meters of cargo on a floor space of up to 4,850
square meters. They also have two tween decks in operation. Compared to existing
tonnage, these cargo spaces have a higher capacity which allows for up to 30%
reduction in GHG emissions per freight ton carried.
The cargo hold of the vessel has three decks and can accommodate cargo units of up
to 104.3 meters in length and 18.2 meters in width under the deck. The hatch covers
and tweendecks can support loads of up to 4.0 metric tons per square meter, while the
tanktop can handle up to 20.0 metric tons per square meter, and in some parts, up to
25.0 metric tons per square meter.
The LakerMax ships of BBC are designed to cater to the varied requirements of clients
from various industries. The company says they offer a versatile solution for transporting
gigantic machinery, oversized components required for energy projects, or critical
infrastructure materials. Their adaptability makes them suitable for transporting different
types of cargo.
Maritime Magazine
New bag rule announced for 2024 Soo Locks Engineers Day
SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in conjunction with the
City of Sault Ste. Marie, the Sault Ste. Marie Convention & Visitors Bureau, the United
States Coast Guard, the Lake Superior State University Center for Freshwater
Research and Education, Hospice of the Eastern Upper Peninsula, and Superior Health
Systems are hosting open house events for the 2024 Soo Locks Engineers Day on
June 28.
“One significant change this year is the requirement for all bags coming into the Soo
Locks to be clear,” Jason Wojnaroski Soo Project Office Assistant Operations Manager
said. “For our visitors bringing bags, clear bags no larger than 12 inches long, 6 inches
deep and 12 inches wide will be required for entry to the event.”
All persons entering the Soo Locks are subject to a security search. Firearms, weapons,
drugs, pets (except service animals) and bicycles are not permitted. Clear bags will
allow park security to quickly inspect bags and assist with making this a fun and safe
event for everyone.
Visitors are welcome into the Soo Locks facility and across the MacArthur Lock from 9
a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Friday, June 28.
“Visitors will still not be able to cross the Poe Lock this year, due to ongoing construction
for the New Lock at the Soo project,” said LeighAnn Ryckeghem, Soo Project Office
Operations Manager. “Visitors will be able to tour the first floor of the historic
Administration Building.”
Visitors should plan on entering the Soo Locks facility at the east end, crossing the
downstream gate of the MacArthur Lock, and exiting the west end, crossing back on the
upstream gate. Exceptions will be made for those who may have difficulty walking the
entire length of the lock.
Since 1975, the Soo Locks have been hosting Engineers Day, traditionally held the last
Friday in June to honor the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ June 16, 1775, birthday.
Along with welcoming visitors into the Soo Locks complex, Canal Park and the viewing
platform will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the Soo Locks Visitor
Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Sault Ste. Marie Convention and Visitors Bureau is closing a portion of Portage
Avenue to focus on downtown city merchants and vendors. Downtown Portage Avenue
will close to vehicle traffic and open for pedestrians and vendors between Ferris Street
and Osborn Boulevard from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., June 28.
“The Soo Locks are a vital part of our community’s history. Engineers Day lets us
celebrate the history and ingenuity behind the Soo Locks,” said Linda Hoath, executive
director of the Sault Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Over the past few years, we’ve
helped grow Engineers Day into an event that involves the whole downtown. We look
forward to welcoming visitors and residents alike to downtown for Engineers Day.”
Along with allowing visitors into the Soo Locks facility, several other events will take
place:
- United States Coast Guard open house from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Hospice of the Eastern Upper Peninsula and Superior Health Systems Arts, Crafts
and Family Fun Fair at the City Hall grounds from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Lake Superior State University Center for Freshwater Research and Education will
be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Great Lakes levels expected to be down this summer, still higher than average
GRAND RAPIDS, MI. – The latest forecast from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
expects water levels on the Great Lakes to come down this summer, closer to average.
Lake levels typically wane in the fall and winter and rise in the spring and summer, but
lower snow totals and higher evaporation rates from a lack of ice will slow down this
year’s swing.
Data: Great Lakes hit record low for ice levels
According to the USACE’s February water level summary, Lake Michigan-Huron —
counted together because the two lakes share a basin — is currently four inches above
its long-term average for February.
Forecasts expect Michigan-Huron to be between 1 and 6 inches below last year’s lake
levels. That would be roughly 32 inches below the record highs, and only 1 to 3 inches
above the long-term average.
Lake Superior and Lake Ontario are expected to come in below long-term average
levels this summer, while Lake Erie is expected to stay 6 to 13 inches above the long-
term average.
The Great Lakes saw a surge in the 2010s after setting a record low in 2013. The high
levels led to widespread erosion, which meant less room on beaches. In some cases, it
even meant houses or other parts of property lost to the lake.
WOOD
