Layups bring big-ticket maintenance and repairs

This season's roster of 10 vessels wintering in the Port of Duluth-Superior was down from an average of 12, but with each layup generating about $500,000 worth of maintenance, repair and renovation work, every one counts. Repairs include everything from major engine overhauls to interior and exterior painting — as shown below on American Steamship Co.'s George A. Stinson.

Cason J. Callaway's arrival closes the season
Although the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers extended the Soo Locks closing to midnight January 25, major ice problems in the St. Marys River below the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., forced Great Lakes Fleet, Inc.'s, Cason J. Callaway to cancel its last scheduled cargo loading and instead lighter several vessels trapped in the system before returning January 24 to Superior's Fraser Shipyard for winter berthing.

Shipping season closes
Lower Lakes Towing, Ltd.'s, Saginaw was the last outbound cargo vessel, departing January 21 from Superior's Burlington Nor-thern Santa Fe taconite facility with about 16,000 metric tons of iron ore pellets destined for Nanticoke, Ont.

The Spar Ruby left the Port on December 19, ending the Seaway navigation season. Photo by Duluth Shipping News

The Panamanian-flagged Spar Ruby ended the Port's 2003 St. Lawrence Seaway navigation season with a December 19 departure from Duluth's AGP Grain Limited with about 18,500 metric tons of wheat destined for Morocco.

The St. Lawrence Seaway System officially closed for the season at midnight, December 28.

Both the Seaway system and the Soo Locks are scheduled to open for 2004 vessel traffic on March 25.