Soo Locks Visitor Center opens for season Wednesday

The Soo Locks Visitor Center opens for the season Wednesday, May 1. The hours will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. Park rangers had a busy week prepping the visitor center, attending training and took a tour of New Lock at the Soo progress.

New Algoma Bear arrives in Canada

Algoma Bear (IMO 9619309), a self-unloading Seaway-max vessel at 740 feet in length and 78 feet in width, built in 2024 in China and the 11th vessel in the Equinox-Class series of new lakers built for the Algoma Central Corp., has arrived in Canada. The vessel arrived at the Port of Sept-Iles, Quebec, Monday, April 29 in the early morning after a long journey originating in China, where the ship was built.

Departing China on February 18, the Algoma Bear began its long journey which would take it across the Pacific Ocean, through the Panama Canal and up the Atlantic, eventually arriving in Eastern Canada. Algoma Bear arrived at the Panama Canal on April 11 after departing China and upon their arrival at the Panama Canal, they anchored at Balboa, Panama the Pacific Anchorage, then to the Panama Canal. They were finally allowed to transit the canal on April 15 almost two full months from their departure from China.

Next up and launched in Croatia on February 17 is the Algoma Endeavour, a 740 foot long by 78 foot wide vessel with a forward-mounted self-unloading boom. Algoma Endeavour will become the 12th vessel in the Equinox-class series of ships built for Algoma Central Corp.

Algoma Central is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.

Denny Dushane

Beaver Island ferry opens season 2 weeks late, following maintenance  delays

CHARLEVOIX, MI – Ferry service to Beaver Island is now available. The 2024 season began last Friday, nearly two weeks later than expected, due to delays with maintenance projects, officials said.

The Emerald Isle kicked off the season with a round trip, carrying a full load of supplies and a few cars to the island, according to a news release from Beaver Island Boat Company. Vehicles and passengers came aboard for the return trip to Charlevoix. The ferry made a second roundtrip on Friday as the company works to get caught up on missed reservations.

“We completed our first-round trip, and everything went well!” said Tim McQueer, company president. “It really feels great to be sailing again.”

Six more trips were completed over the weekend, WPBN/WGTU reports. The company planned to start the season on April 15, but supply delays related to maintenance projects on the Emerald Isle and the Beaver Islander put them behind schedule.

M Live