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| Soo Locks open to empty waterways | |
| 2009-03-27 | |
No commercial vessels were nearby when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opened the Poe Lock at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. None arrived, in fact, until the 450-foot Canadian tanker Algo Star finally passed through 17 hours later -- around 5 p.m. -- upbound with fuel for Thunder Bay, Ontario. "I can't remember when we've had it like this," said Dennis Campbell, chief lockmaster on duty for the day. "Things are going to be slow this season, I can tell you that." So slow is this year's start that Campbell didn't expect another freighter to navigate the locks before the Algo Star's downbound return trip Sunday. Locks have been a key part of the waterway connecting Lake Superior to the lower Great Lakes since the first was built in 1855, bypassing rapids where water falls 23 feet from Lake Superior to the lower part of the St. Mary's. They close between Jan. 15 and March 25 for maintenance work while the waterways are jammed with ice. The work to get the locks ready this year will be featured on an episode of the popular cable program "Dirty Jobs." Host Mike Rowe helped workers grease huge gears, make repairs and clean up after winter. The episode is scheduled to air in September. The March 25 reopening of the locks each year clears the way for massive freighters to ply the Great Lakes after three months in layup. An average of 10,000 vessels and 80-90 million tons of freight usually pass through the locks before winter lockdown. Shippers expect that to be down significantly this year. The industry is hard-hit by the economic doldrums. Demand for such staples as limestone, iron ore and coal plummeted in the second half of 2008. | |
| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #5 perfect time in history to bring'em all home...we have the capacity and the talent to produce the majority of what we need...screw the world I for one will pay 15,20,30 dollars for a toaster if it is made in the US...everything is going up regardless of of where it's made. The baltic dry index has been scary and the chain is def limping if not broken...bring it home |
| Posted by: dan 2009-03-27 08:29 |
| #4 Up a bit from January but still in the pits. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2009-03-27 08:02 |
| #3 Ross Perot's "giant sucking sound" finally sucked itself dry? We can no longer get products from China and no one dares attempt a start-up under the Barry administration. Guess we'll be doing without for a spell. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-03-27 07:53 |
| #2 Anyone see the Baltic Dry Index lately? |
| Posted by: no mo uro 2009-03-27 06:31 |
| #1 I was looking for some electrical wire online & found this startling notice at a website for one supplier: "To our valued customers: The current economic situation has damaged the scheduled manufacturer chain, in that mill after mill has cut back on personnel and work days and extended shipping schedules from 2 to 4 weeks delivery to as many as 10 to 12 weeks. Some major links in the chain have shut down temporarily and some have closed until further notice. We are feeling the effects of this situation on an increasing number of our products, and we are being forced to delay shipping on an increasing number of orders. We are also seeking alternate suppliers for some items where possible. We apologize for any delays." |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2009-03-27 01:55 |