FREQUENT FLIERS: Top 10 cargo ships that
went through the Soo Locks the most in 2023
SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – An engineering marvel, the Soo Locks in Michigan’s Upper
Peninsula is one of the busiest maritime locking systems in the world. Each year, more
than 4,500 vessels use the locks. And they carry through up to 80 million tons of cargo.
But some ships and cargo vessels become a little more familiar to the locks crews than
others during the course of the year. They go upbound and downbound quite a bit.
Think of these big vessels as the “frequent flyers” of the cargo shipping business on the
Great Lakes.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Detroit, which oversees the Soo Locks, just
released a video counting down which ships – and tugboats – went through the locks the
most in 2023.
“The 2023 season was another busy one for crews at the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie,
Michigan,” Army Corps staff said. “After running all the numbers and counting every
lockage we compiled a list of the top ten cargo ships that made the most trips through
the locks last year.”
You can check out the video at the below. Here is the list:
10th place: This was a four-way tie, with three of the Great Lakes’ thousand-foot
freighters and a smaller ship each locking through 70 times. The three “footers” are
longer than three football fields. They are:
American Integrity
Stewart J. Cort
Edgar B. Speer
The smallest spot in that four-way tie goes to the 730-foot American Mariner, which
could fit neatly on the deck of one of those thousand-footers.
9th place: This spot is also a tie. Passing through 72 times were the James R. Barker –
the first thousand-footer built entirely on the Great Lakes – and the much smaller tug
Victory. The Victory is typically paired with the barge Maumee. Ship-watching fans love
the James R. Barker’s unique two-tone horn. They call it the “Barker Bark.”
8th place: It’s the Mesabi Miner with 74 trips through the locks. This thousand-footer is
named after the Mesabi Range, an iron ore mining area in northern Minnesota. It is one
of only two areas iron ore is mined in the U.S., according to the Army Corps. The other
is in Marquette, Michigan.
7th place: John G. Munson. This classic “Laker-style” ship has its forward pilothouse
with its engines at the stern. It locked through the Soo 75 times last year.
6th place: This spot belongs to the American Century, which visited the locks 76 times
last year. It can carry up to 80,000 tons in a single load.
5th place: The tug W.I. Scott Purvis, built in 1938, gets the midway point honors on this
list. The consort tug went through the locks 77 times in 2023. It’s homeported in Ontario,
Canada.
4th place: The Paul R. Tregurtha – the longest ship on the Great Lakes – when through
the Soo on 81 trips last year. With her length at an impressive 1,013 feet, she is the
reigning “Queen of the Great Lakes.”
3rd place: Locking through 86 times was the Edwin H. Gott, which the Army Corps gives
the nod to as the “most powerful ship on the Great Lakes.” It can haul at a steady 17
mph and can be loaded with more than 70 tons of cargo per trip.
2nd place: The Honorable James L. Oberstar made 88 trips. This classic Laker
launched in 1959. Its current name is a hat-tip to a former congressman from Minnesota
who was known as a champion of transportation issues.
1st place: Celebrating 92 trips through the Soo Locks is the Lee A. Tregurtha. This 82-
year-old Laker is one of the oldest ships on the Great lakes. It launched in 1942 and
was first used as a Naval tanker during WWII. Several structural alterations later, this
ship now makes runs between Detroit and Marquette hauling iron ore pellets.
Read the full story at MLive: https://www.mlive.com/life/2024/02/top-10-cargo-ships-
that-went-through-the-soo-locks-the-most-in-2023.html
Coast Guard replacing Merchant Mariner Credential
The Coast Guard is replacing the Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) passport style
booklet (“Red Book”) with a new credential. The new credential is effective March 1,
2024, and will be issued to mariners after that date.
The age of the Coast Guard National Maritime Center (NMC) printers for the passport
style credential combined with their significant use has necessitated a need to issue a
new MMC. To move to a more reliable and modern printing process, the new credential
is formatted on 8.5” x 11” water resistant synthetic paper containing several security
features including anti-copy, micro-printing, foiling, and intricate patterns. The new
credential is produced on readily available commercial printers significantly reducing
printing times.
The new MMC will be issued to mariners during their next application, while the existing
passport style credentials will remail valid until expiration. (valid for 5 years after
issuance date) The Coast Guard is planning for a long-term credentialing solution in the
form of an electronic credential, or E-credential. The medical certificate will not change.
If mariners have any questions regarding the new credential, please contact the NMC
Customer Service Center by e-mailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil or calling 1-888-IASKNMC
(427-5662).
For more information on this notice or policy related questions, please contact the Office
or Merchant Mariner Credentialing (CG-MMC) at MMCpolicy@uscg.mil.
HELP WANTED: S.S. Badger
Once again we are searching for some Navigational Deck/Navigational Engine crew for
our 2024 sailing season. Applications must be filled out on-line by visiting our website
at: www.ssbadger.com and click Join The Team.
Able-Seaman (AB): Performs navigational watch in and around the pilot house, assists
Mate on duty with supervising the deck crew, assists in loading and off-loading
passengers and cargo, proper use and care of deck equipment, supplies and material,
work alongside deck crew, undertaking tasks as necessary, learn fire and lifeboat
stations along with signals and procedures associated with an emergency to properly
carry out a fire and lifeboat drill to US Coast Guard standards, be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.
Room and board provided, employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice a day, 7 days per
week and eligible for medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 90-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR THE AB POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED
AND POSSES THE CREDENTIALS NEEDED FOR THIS POSITON.
QMED: Works under the direction of the watch Engineer, employee will stand a 4-hour
watch, twice a day, 7 days per week, be prepared to live and work aboard the vessel
the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct. (room and board provided).
APPLICANTS FOR THE QMED POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED AND POSSES
THE FIREMAN/OILER/WATERTENDER ENDORSEMENTS ON THEIR MMC. QMED –
Oiler: Assists with operating and maintaining all vessel equipment and systems, assists
with monitoring plant operation, assists with record-keeping, assigned a cleaning
station. QMED – Fireman: Manages the fires in the operating boilers, ensures an
adequate fuel supply to the boilers, assists the Coal passer on duty with ash removal
conveyors, assigned a cleaning station. Qualifications/Certifications required: Valid
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), valid Merchant Mariners
Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, endorsement as QMED
Fireman/Oiler/Watertender on MMC, current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate,
legally eligible to be employed in the United States (Proof of identity and eligibility will be
required upon employment.
LICENSED ENGINE OFFICER: Supervise a watch with the assistance and direction
from the Chief Engineer. Responsible for the safety of the personnel assigned to the
watch and their task performance in the operation of the vessel. Assists with the
operation and maintenance of all vessel operating equipment and systems. Maintains
the engine room records as required by various agencies. Conducts periodic safety
inspections of departmental tools and safety equipment as directed. Required to make
descriptive entries of all work performed in the Engineer log. Be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.
(room and board provided). Employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice daily, 7 days per
week. Eligible for AMO medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 60-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR LICENSED ENGINEER POSITIONS MUST
BE QUALIFIED AND POSSESS LICENSED ENGINEER OF STEAM VESSELS OF
UNLIMITED ENDORSEMENT OF 4000 HP OR HIGHER. Qualifications/Certifications
Required: Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), Valid Merchant
Mariners Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard with proper endorsements,
including at least Third Assistant Engineer of steam vessels of unlimited horsepower,
current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate and be legally eligible to be employed in the
United States (proof of identity will be required upon employment).
Interlake Steamship Co.
