Marine Highway
The latest developments and news affecting operations, conditions, and improvements of the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway System.
Ice Conditions Renew Calls for Additional U.S. Icebreaker on Great Lakes
Commercial shipping on the Great Lakes has slowed sharply just a few days into the 2026 navigation season, as ice conditions in the St. Marys River and Whitefish Bay halted vessel traffic and renewed... Read More
2026 Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway Shipping Season Officially Underway
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, opened the Poe Lock at the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to all marine traffic at 12:01 a.m. EST on... Read More
Paul Bunyan Crane Barge Returning to Soo Locks
A new Paul Bunyan-sized floating crane is being built for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for duty at the Soo Locks. It’s a project just getting started. The new $45.8 million vessel, named after the fictional lumberjack Paul Bunyan, is expected to... Read More
Seaway System Closes for 2025 Navigation Season
The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System officially closed for the 2025 navigation season on January 12. The system was supposed to close on January 5, but ice buildup created shipping... Read More
Toledo Harbor Dredging Completed
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District recently completed the largest annual dredging project on the Great Lakes. Dredging of Toledo Harbor’s federal navigation channel began in the fall and wrapped... Read More
Unlocking the Seaway’s Potential
Stakeholders have long said that the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway has the potential to increase service and contribute even more to North American trade and the international maritime industry. From efforts to expand container service to... Read More
Winding Down
As the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System approaches its seasonal closure, the rhythm of maritime commerce slows. The Montreal–Lake Ontario section will cease transits after December 24, with all ships required to clear... Read More
Legacy of the Soo: The Remarkable Story of the Lock that Almost Wasn’t
On June 29, 1984, then-U.S. Reps. Don Albosta (D-Michigan) and Bob Davis (R-Michigan) successfully offered a floor amendment in the U.S. House of Representatives, beginning the legislative process that would... Read More
Industry Stakeholders Gather for the AGLPA 2025 Conference
Photos by Victor Studio – Chicago, Illinois The annual American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA) Conference took place August 14 and 15. Industry stakeholders and leaders met for the two-day... Read More
1958: The Year that Remade Great Lakes Shipping
1958 has received little attention as an important year for Great Lakes shipping. But, in fact, 1958 was a year of four pivotal events that together reshaped it. The St.... Read More
Corps of Engineers Begins Muskegon Harbor Revetment Repair Work
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District is beginning long-term improvements to the Muskegon Harbor North Revetment to improve the safety and stability of the popular walkway. The $5.765... Read More