Freighter crashes into East Bank of the Flats, becomes stuck

CLEVELAND (WJW) – Overnight, a freighter crashed into the East Bank of the Flats and became stuck, temporarily blocking part of the Cuyahoga River.

Officials said at about 12:30 a.m. on Friday, the 406-foot Sunnanvik, carrying 3,500 tons of powdered cement, was trying to back into a dock when it hit the boardwalk and became wedged between the east and west banks of the river. The freighter is owned by Eureka Shipping.

Shortly after 6 a.m., two Great Lakes Towing Co, tugs arrived on the scene and towed the vessel to the Holcim dock to unload. The river has since reopened for all vessel traffic. There were no injuries, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The U.S. Coast Guard said the captain is very familiar with the river and the route. At the time of the crash, the river’s current was extremely high following recent rains.

The cause of the grounding is still under investigation. The boat and the dock will be assessed to determine if they’re safe and what repairs need to be made.

Fox 8

Michigan history grant supports Neebish
Island’s preservation of Lookout #4

NEEBISH ISLND, MI – The America250MI Committee has awarded the Neebish Island Historical Society $5,000 as a part of the first round of the America250MI History Grant Program for Shipmates of Lookout #4 Restoration Project.

Lookout #4 is the last of seven lookouts used in the late 1800s and 1900s to track ships in the Lower St. Marys River system and is located in Barbeau, MI. The project goal is to restore the lookout before nature takes what remains and to educate vacationers and residents about its history and role in the navigation of the shipping industry.

The America250MI History Grant Program is funding projects that will help preserve Michigan’s history for future generations. The grant program represents a key element of the state’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

In 2020, Governor Whitmer directed the Historical Society of Michigan and the Michigan History Center to coordinate the state’s commemoration of the anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. The two organizations created the America250MI Committee to aid and advise this effort.

America250MI is Michigan’s statewide committee tasked with commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America, the American Revolution’s role in Michigan’s history and the impact that these, and various historical events, have had on the people of Michigan’s past, present and future.

Established in 1828, the Historical Society of Michigan is Michigan’s oldest cultural organization and helps connect Michigan’s past to its residents and organizations through programs and events, publications, awards, workshops, networking opportunities and support for local history organizations. The society is a member-supported educational 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and receives zero state-appropriated funding.

The Michigan History Center fosters curiosity, enjoyment and inspiration rooted in Michigan’s stories through museums, historic sites, Michigan Historical Markers, heritage trails, archaeology and programming. The center, a part of the Department of Natural Resources, manages 11 museums statewide, museum and archaeology artifact collections and various educational programs.

$95.3 million awarded to complete Phase 3 of New Lock at the Soo

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District’s New Lock at the Soo project in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., has awarded a total of $95.3 million for remaining Phase 3 options to Kokosing Alberici Traylor, LLC (KAT) of Westerville, Ohio.

The remaining Phase 3 options include Option 4: Downstream Work ($44.9 million), Option 5: Hands Free Mooring ($24.2 million), and Option 6: Downstream Ship Arrestors ($26.2 million).

Negotiated pricing on the remaining Phase 3 options was set to expire in September 2025.

“With an early award of the remaining Phase 3 options, the project continues to be on track for completion in 2030,” said Detroit District’s Senior Civilian Kevin McDaniels.

The New Lock at the Soo project is being built in 3 phases. Phase 1 (Upstream Channel Deepening) was completed in 2022 and Phase 2 (Upstream Approach Walls) was completed in 2024. The Phase 3 contract was awarded to KAT in July 2022 with a base contract at $1.068 billion. Awarding the base contract allowed the contractor to begin work in 2022 with the remaining work (contract options), to be awarded over the next three years.

“The leadership team throughout the Corps of Engineers have made the New Lock at the Soo project a national priority and we have continued to see strong support every step along the way,” said McDaniels.

Construction of Phase 3 began in late 2022, and given continued efficient funding is expected to last seven years. The New Lock at the Soo will be constructed in the footprint of the Sabin Lock and will be the same size as the Poe Lock (1,200 feet long, 110 feet wide and 32 feet deep).

“The contractor has completed nearly $600 million worth of work through the end of May 2025,” said New Lock at the Soo Senior Project Manager Mollie Mahoney. “With the ongoing new concrete monoliths construction, the new lock walls are beginning to take shape on the downstream end of the project site. Demolition of the existing Sabin Lock concrete continues, and bedrock excavation in the footprint of the new lock chamber is steadily progressing. In the Davis Lock, the New Pump Well walls are being constructed, and the remainder of the chamber continues to be filled with excavated material.”

The main focus of construction over the next year will continue to be concrete monolith placement as well as Sabin Lock demolition and bedrock excavation.

The Soo Locks allow vessels to transit the 21-foot elevation change at the St. Marys Falls Canal. Over 88 percent of commodity tonnage through the Soo Locks is restricted by vesse size to the Poe Lock. The New Lock at the Soo project will construct a second Poe-sized lock.

The Soo Locks are essential to U.S. manufacturing and National Security, the New Lock at the Soo project will provide resiliency for this critical node in the Great Lakes Navigation System. A 2015 Department of Homeland Security study estimates a six-month Poe Lock closure would temporarily reduce the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) by $1.1 trillion, resulting in the loss of 11 million jobs.

Corps of Engineers

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