St. Marys River reopened after buoy issue is resolved

2 PM UPDATE: Buoy 51 has been removed from the center of the channel by USCG Katmai Bay. Soo Traffic made the announcement at 2 p.m. that the river has been reopened. The James R. Barker, tied up at the east center pier of the locks, will be the first to depart, followed by Algoma Strongfield.

Stewart J. Cort was able to get underway just before 2 p.m. with the aid of the USCG Biscayne Bay.

NOON UPDATE: Purvis tugs and barge PML 2501 successfully made it through the Neebish passage and are approaching MIssion Point. Katmai Bay is downstream of Nine Mile Point, and will be working to to reposition buoy 51 that is off station in the Munuscong Lake channel.

ORIGINAL REPORT: The St. Marys River was closed from the Soo Locks to the Mud Lake Junction Buoy early Wednesday morning due to visibility issues including fog and snow and well as a buoy that is off station. Eight downbound vessels are either at anchor above the locks or being held at the piers until conditions improve. They are the James R. Barker, Algoma Strongfield, Presque Isle, American Integrity, Hon. James L. Oberstar, G3 Marquis, H. Lee White and Manitoulin, all of which had been delayed on Lake Superior by the intense storm earlier this week.

The USCG Katmai Bay was assisting the Purvis Marine tugs W.I Scott Purvis and Wilfred M. Cohen with an upbound barge in the vicinity of Johnson’s Point. With several cold nights, ice is now a factor for some vessels. The Eastern Upper Peninsula is under a winter storm warning until Thursday night, with as much as 12 inches of snow and winds gusting as high as 40 mph in the forecast.

Stewart J. Cort, showing a destination of Silver Bay and which anchored above DeTour Monday for weather, is stuck in the ice and is awaiting the arrival of USCG Biscayne Bay Wednesday afternoon.

The 2025-2026 winter layup list is now up and running at;  https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/winter-lay-up-list-2025-2026