UPDATED 2 p.m. THURSDAY: The Soo Locks are back open after being closed for several hours on Wednesday. Carrie Fox, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, told &10 News that the locks were shut down around 1 p.m. Wednesday after a ship accidentally dropped its anchor in the Poe Lock. The ship, the American Century, had to back out of the lock and moor at the pier. “The initial investigation had no major findings which allowed operations to commence. We will need to do follow-up underwater inspections for any potential structural damages in the coming days,” Fox said.
9&10 News
6:30 PM UPDATE: The American Century was entering the lock about 6 p.m., which presumes no damage was found by the Corps survey vessel. James R. Barker has moved back up into postion to take the lock from the upboiund Burns Harbor. Carrie Fox, Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said the American Century accidentally dropped her anchor around 1 p.m. The American Century is 1,000 feet long and owned by the American Steamship Co.
StreamTime Live camera image shows the American Century at right, with James R. Barker center and Oakglen at left.
ORIGINAL REPORT: SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – While downbound into the Poe Lock in the early afternoon Wednesday, American Century accidentally dropped its anchor. After the anchor was brought up, the Oakglen shifted to the West Pier and the James R. Barker moved astern so that the Century could back out of the lock. The Corps of Engineers has dispatched the survey vessel Bufe to inspect the lock.
The upbound Burns Harbor is tied up at the lower Poe Lock pier. Downbound Edwin H. Gott went anchor in Waiska Bay. Upbound Kathy McKeil went to anchor in the Nine Mile anchorage, with American Integrity likely to join her. Ashtabula/Defiance went to anchor above DeTour with the Joseph L. Block ordered to join her until the situation is resolved.
