DULUTH, MN – Spring is in the air in the Duluth-Superior harbor. The snow is melting, the birds are chirping and the giant ships that ply Lake Superior’s waters have awoken from their winter slumber, signaling the start of another Great Lakes shipping season.

The season began when the Soo Locks, which connect Lake Superior with the lower Great Lakes, opened for ship traffic just after midnight on Wednesday.

But vessels begin to stir several days before the locks open. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Spar, which is docked in Duluth, left the port on March 9 as part of Operation Taconite, the Coast Guard’s largest domestic icebreaking operation, which covers the northern Great Lakes.

The Spar spent several days clearing the Duluth-Superior harbor. Then it cut a track through thick ice to Thunder Bay, Ontario.

“It’s going to be a challenging spring. It’s more challenging than in recent history,” said Brian Smicklas, who oversees the Coast Guard’s Great Lakes icebreaking operations.

“We saw a significant spike in ice growth in the early part of the winter. It’s tapered off some, but not dramatically. And, frankly, this is the most dangerous time, when we start seeing ice that is not connected to shore drifting around. So right now is a max effort to make things safe,” Smicklas said.

The giant ships that carry bulk cargoes such as iron ore, grain and limestone — along with the colorful ocean-going vessels known as “salties” that travel all the way to Duluth through the St. Lawrence Seaway — are a major draw for tourists in Duluth, who line the shipping canal as the boats traverse under the Aerial Lift Bridge.

The 806-foot James L. Oberstar was the first ship to leave the Duluth port, sailing under the Lift Bridge on Monday afternoon, bound for Marquette, Mich., to pick up a load of iron ore pellets.

The Mesabi Miner followed that evening, bound for Cleveland loaded with a cargo of taconite pellets. Ships often leave before the locks open, giving themselves time to traverse Lake Superior to line up outside Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

The Paul R. Tregurtha is the first ship scheduled to arrive in Duluth on Thursday morning.

The Great Lakes shipping season pauses for about ten weeks every winter. The Soo Locks closed after the last vessel passed through on Jan. 15.

“Our winter closure period is essential for conducting critical inspections, repairs and maintenance on our aging infrastructure,” said Soo Locks Operations Manager LeighAnn Ryckeghem said.

Last year was a tough year for the port of Duluth-Superior. Iron ore shipments, which make up more than half of the cargo shipped out of the port, were down about 16 percent following the closing of one taconite mine on the Iron Range and the partial idling of another.

A major grain terminal on the port also closed. And the port’s sole coal loading terminal is slated to close this summer. One bright spot was the shipping of large goods that can’t fit into shipping containers, known as break bulk cargo.

Minnesota Public Radio

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/03/24/great-lakes-shipping-season-starts-up-again-in-duluth-port

UPDATE 1:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY: With engine repairs completed, the Munson has resumed her trip to Marquette, MI, to load ore.

UPDATE 11 A.M. WEDNESDAY: Tugs Colorado and Cheraw broke ice at the far end of the West Pier so the Colorado could assist the disabled Munson to the dock, where she is now moored. With the Munson out of the channel, upbound traffic has resumed starting with the Paul R. Tregurtha and Kathy McKeil next. Mesabi Miner will be the first downbounder for the season.

UPDATE 8 A.M. WEDNESDAY: The Soo Locks opened for the season as expected at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. However the John G. Munson, which was the third to lock up, is now stopped above the locks, with social media suggesting she lost power. The Great Lakes Towing Co,. tug Colorado was headed up to assist. Traffic has been halted until the situation is resolved.

ORIGINAL REPORT: SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – With the tug-barge Dirk S. VanEnkevort

/Michigan Trader having the honor of being the first transit of the season, the Soo Locks were expected to open on schedule at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Edwin H. Gott will be next, followed by John G. Munson.

Dirk S. VanEnkevort/Michigan Trader pulled in to the harbor Monday afternoon and was the first to arrive at the locks, which is why she was the first passage. On Tuesday, a group of local officials visited the Dirk to present the captain and crew with plaques and First Boat baseball caps. Soo Mayor Don Gerrie read a proclamation and Linda Hoath, president of the Soo Convention and Visitors Bureau and member of the Soo Locks Visitor Center Association, presented the plaque. A blessing of the fleet ceremony was also offered, after which coffee and dessert waas served in the galley. Later in the evening the Soo Locks Visitor Center Association hosted a members-only reception at the Visitor Center which was attended by about 70 people, including the captain and some Dirk S. crewmembers.

The upbound Paul R. Tregurtha stopped at Nine Mile Point Tuesday night after battling ice in the vicinity of Stribling Point most of the day. She was finally freed with the help of USCG icebreakers. Behind her were Kathy McKeil, CSL Welland, Evans Spirit, Stewart J. Cort and James R. Barker, also stopped for the night.

Joseph L. Block left Milwaukee Tuesday headed to Marquette.

SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – The tug-barge Dirk S. VanEnkevort/Michigan Trader, followed by the John G. Munson, were upbound at Mission Point about 5 p.m. Monday, each blowing a salute to a small but enthusiastic group of ship fans gathered in bright sunshine but bitterly cold winds. The vessels tied up at the locks waiting for the official opening time of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Edwin H. Gott and Paul R. Tregurtha were upbound below Lime Island Monday at 9 p.m., and will be stopping to wait as well.

On Tuesday a small group of local officials, inculuding members of city goverment, the Soo Locks Visitor Center Assocation, the media and others will board the Dirk S. VanEnkevort and present the captain and crew with plaques marking the event, First Boat baseball caps and copies of the new Know Your Ships book. Edwin H. Gott and Paul R. Tregurtha will be next in line after the first two vessels pass through.

CCGS icebreaker Vincent Massey was back upbound Monday afternoon after assisting U.S. cutters in the lower river. The Soo Locks Visitor Center will be open Wednesday from 9 a.m.-3 for an open house.

 

In addition to the vessels arriving at the Soo Locks, AIS revealed the following movements Monday on the upper Great Lakes.

• Hon. James L. Oberstar left Duluth for Marquette. Mesabi Miner moved over to the LSI dock to load ore, then departed around 8 p.m. for Cleveland. Indiana Harbor was also on the move, headed to Superior to load.
• Paul R. Tregurtha was approaching DeTour at 8 p.m.
•  Kathy McKeil was upbound on Lake Huron headed to Thunder Bay. CSL Welland and Evans Spirit were in the lower St. Clair River, also headed to Thunder Bay.
  • James R. Barker left Bayship headed to Superior. Edgar B. Speer was moved into the graving dock. Speer’s port engine is being pulled Tuesday (starboard engine was pulled last week), as the vessel is being repowered.
  • Stewart J. Cort departed Milwaukee for Silver Bay.
  

  James R. Barker leaving BayShip with Edgar B. Speer moving into the drydock. [Rosann Hollinger]

  

  Stewart J. Cort leaving Milwaukee Monday. [Interlake Steamship Co.]

UPDATE 7 p.m. Monday: Tug-barge Dirk S. VanEnkevort/Michigan Trader and John G. Munson were upbound at Mission Point about 5 p.m., each blowing a salute to a small but enthusiastic group of ship fans. They tied up below the locks waiting for the official opening time of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Tuesday a small group of local officials and others will board the Dirk S. VanEnkevort and present the captain and crew with plaques, First Boat baseball caps and copies of the new Know Your Ships book. Edwin H., Gott will be next in line after the first two vessels pass through.

UPDATE 3:15 p.m. Monday: As is often the case where the boats are concerned, plans have changed. Tug-barge Dirk S. VanEnkevort/Michigan Trader and John G. Munson are now heading up the river.

UPDATE 12:15 p.m. Monday: looks as if vessels headed to the Soo Locks for Opening Day will convoy up river Tuesday morning. Tug-barge Dirk S. VanEnkevort/Michigan Trader and John G. Munson are at anchor near the south tip of Lime Island, with Edwin H. Gott and Paul R. Tregurtha due at DeTour near midnight. Four icebreakers have been busy maintaining the upbound channel, readying a track for the vessels. As of this writing, James R. Barker was departing Sturgeon Bay with the assistance of USCG Mackinaw, which had earlier helped the Algocanada into Green Bay. At Duluth, Mesabi Miner was loading taconite pellets at CN Dock 6 .

UPDATE: The U.S. Coast Guard has asked the tug-barge Dirk S. VanEnkevort/Michigan Trader to remain anchored south of Lime Island until Monday. CCSG Vincent Massey locked downdound around noon Sunday and headed down river.

UPDATE: Tug-barge Dirk S. VanEnkevort/Michigan Trader arrived at DeTour late Saturday. They dropped the anchor off the south end of Lime Island while USCG cutters Biscayne Bay, Katmai Bay and Neah Bay work to prepare a track therough the ice. If all goes well they will head up to Soo Harbor Sunday and moor at the lower Poe Lock pier to wait for the locks to open at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. CCSG Vincent Massey is above the locks working ice there. Elsewhere, the John G. Munson left Toledo Sunday morning headed to Marquette to load. She was followed by Edwin H. Gott and Paul R. Tregurtha.

UPDATE: Saturday evening tug-barge Dirk S. VanEnkevort/Michigan Trader were approaching DeTour and the St. Marys River and, with no other vessels headed for the Soo, seems assured to be the first passage of new season when the locks open at 12:01 a.m. March 25. U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard vessels have been working the ice in in upper and lower St. Marys River in preparation for the opening. On Saturday, the Mackinac Straits saw the eastbound passage of Algoma Intrepid and the westbound passge of Whitefish Bay and Alpena, assisted by USCG Morro Bay. Algocanada was headed for Green Bay, with the icebreaker Mackinaw standig by to escort her.

ORIGINAL POST: The tug-barge Dirk S. VanEnkevort/Michigan Trader of the VanEnkevort Tug & Barge fleet left their winter dock at Toledo, OH, headed for the Soo Locks, to begin their season late Friday morning. They have already fueled and may be the season’s first passage, arriving at the locks March 22 or 23 depending on ice conditions in the lower St. Marys River. Capt. Eric Sawyer,
was master of the Clyde S. VanEnkevort, which opened the Soo season last year. The locks open at 12:01 a.m. on the 25th.

DRE Designs, AIS and Boatnerd Staff

UPDATE: The channel will not be opened until Tuesday, according to the USCG.

Algoma Bear will be the first merchant vessel to transit the St. Lawrence Seaway Sunday, March 22 at the St. Lambert Lock, and not the Rt. Hon. Paul J. Martin as previously mentioned. The ceremonial Top Hat event is still scheduled for Monday form 8:30-11 a.m.

Rene Beauchamp

DULUTH, MN –U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Tuesday that more than $1 billion has been delivered to fund replacement of a major bridge connecting Duluth and Superior. The money will go to fund the $1.8 billion replacement of the Blatnik Bridge.

Earlier this month, Gov. Tony Evers and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin were among Democrats who had urged Duffy to sign an amended grant agreement and release $1.05 billion awarded for the project. Built in 1961, the bridge is set to close in 2030 due to its age and deteriorating condition.

The Wisconsin and Minnesota Departments of Transportation had said construction couldn’t begin otherwise, warning that project costs may rise by tens of millions of dollars if funds were delayed. Around $4 billion in goods pass over the bridge each year.

Wisconsin and Minnesota have each set aside $400 million for replacement of the aging bridge, which is set to close completely beginning next year. The Blatnik Bridge replacement will employ around 1,100 workers during construction. The project is now set to go out for bid in June.

Superior’s mayor estimates the project will take five to seven years and says the city is preparing for “a total reordering of our economy and way of life” until the new bridge is finished.
Wisconsin Public Radio – https://www.wpr.org/news/us-transportation-secretary-sean-duffy-releases-1b-for-major-twin-ports-bridge-project