The Great Lakes region began the 2025 navigation season with a mix of weather-related conditions. The final months of 2024 were relatively mild, allowing ships to move freely through much of the region.
The U.S. National Ice Center (NIC) Winter 2024-2025 seasonal outlook for Great Lakes ice predicted slightly below normal ice conditions on Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie. Near normal ice conditions were predicted for Lake Ontario.
The Soo Locks’ MacArthur Lock closed in December 2024 for seasonal maintenance. In January, the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan closed to all marine traffic through 12:01 a.m. March 25 to perform seasonal critical maintenance. The bulk freighter American Mariner was the last vessel to transit the Poe Lock for the 2024-25 navigation season.
During the 10-month navigation season, ships carried about 68 million tons of cargo through the Soo Locks, according to USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District.
On January 6, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Northern Great Lakes commenced Operation Taconite to prevent newly formed ice from hindering commercial vessel traffic.
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw (WLBB 30) is assigned to manage the ice breaking needs of the twin ports of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. Additional icebreakers may be assigned in western Lake Superior as ice coverage expands, according to U.S. Coast Guard officials.
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Bay (WTGB 103) is assigned to manage the ice breaking needs of Green Bay. U.S. Coast Guard Cutters Katmai Bay (WTGB 101) and Neah Bay (WTGB 105) will manage the St. Marys River and the Straits of Mackinac.
Operation Taconite is the U.S. Coast Guard’s largest domestic Ice Breaking operation. The operation encompasses Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, the St. Marys River, the Straits of Mackinac, and Georgian Bay.
On January 8, 2025, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) issued a joint statement regarding a tentative agreement for a new six-year Master
Contract.
In January, Fincantieri ACE Marine (FAM) was accepted into Tier 1 of the Wisconsin Green Tier program. Green Tier is a voluntary program for businesses, local governments, and organizations committed to going above and beyond compliance to improve their environmental performance and impact.
Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, FAM is part of the Fincantieri Marine Group, a U.S. division of Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest shipbuilders.
In January, harsh conditions on Lake Erie left M/V Manitoulin stuck in ice. On January 22, The 664 foot self-unloading bulk carrier was beset by ice near Buffalo, New York. The ship was eventually freed by U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers.
In late January, the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) released a summary of maintenance work being done across the region.
Each winter, U.S.-flagged Lakers carriers lay up in ports across the Great Lakes region to perform critical maintenance before the March re-opening of the navigational locks in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan.
During winter lay up, skilled shipyard workers will perform nearly $150 million in maintenance on bulk carriers and other vessels.
The state receiving the largest amount of work is Ohio with $51.5 million, followed closely by Wisconsin at $51 million, Pennsylvania at $25 million, Minnesota and Michigan both getting $9 million, and another $3 million will go to facilities in New York and Illinois, according to the LCA press release.
In February, the American Great Lakes Ports Association announced the release of “American Anchor,” a series of short films highlighting key transportation supply chains and illustrating the global and regional impacts of Great Lakes Seaway shipping. The series is available on YouTube.
On March 21, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District opened the Poe Lock. Part of the Soo Locks, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, the Poe Lock enables marine traffic to pass between Lake Superior and the lower lakes.
The early opening signaled the start of the 2025 Great Lakes shipping season. The first commercial ship to pass though the Poe Lock was the tug/barge combo Clyde S. Vanenkevort/Erie Trader.
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