Original Soo Locks Boat Tours

01/02/2025

What an exhilarating moment! I was attempting to capture the Harvest Spirit coming around Mission Point when an eagle suddenly swooped in as it dove for something in the water. Looks like winter weather is back! Stay warm everyone! :-)

01/01/2025

The USCGC Spar and the American Mariner passing each other in front of our docks this morning. What a great way to start the New Year! :-)

01/01/2025

12/31/2024

There goes the James R. Barker heading up to the Soo Locks! What a beautiful morning to out here on the St.Mary's River! :-)

12/31/2024

Last day of the year and it's a busy one! Lots of freighters out there! :-)

12/31/2024

Meet The Crew Monday!!!

12/30/2024

Great shot of the Stewart J. Cort! Thank you The Captain ET for sharing this remarkable aerial photo with us all! :-)

Stewart J Cort downbound at sunset on her approach to the Soo Locks on 21 December 2024.

12/30/2024

Salty Sunday! Today we are looking at the bulk carrier Rodopi when we had the chance to lock through the Soo Locks next to it on October 7th 2024. Locking up 21 feet in the Poe Lock, the tugs W.I. Scott Purvis & Adanac III were waiting to assist the Rodopi to Algoma Sault Export Dock.
The Rodopi (IMO: 9498274) is a Bulk Carrier and is sailing under the flag of Malta. Her length overall (LOA) is 186 meters (610 feet) and her width is 23.97 meters (78 feet) The Rodopi is now currently off the coast of Brazil. With the Original Soo Locks Boat Tours there is always something exciting to see here in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan! :-)

12/29/2024

GOTT another one! This time from DRE Designs - Great Lakes Marine Products! Thank you Andrea Guerriero for sharing these amazing aerial views! :-)

Well today is considered a win for me already even though we are only just past lunchtime lol... I was able to get away twice and get some drone shots and I'm very happy about it! No wind, no rain, mild temps... perfect to get her up and capture some of the ships!

This shot has fan fav Edwin H Gott downbound out of the Poe Lock headed for Nanticoke, Ontario loaded with ore... I'm glad I cpatured them because Nanticoke is way over on the northeastern shoreline of Lake Erie near the Welland Canal so it will be quite a number of days before she returns and our season is quickly dwindling away! They also have a bad habit of going through town in the dark so I was glad to capture her in the daylight today! In behind them you can see the Presque Isle headed for the wall below the lock to tie up and ahead of them is the American Courage moving ahead into the Poe Lock

Our friend the Wheel Minion (John Rice) is not aboard and I believe he is done for the season so we won't be seeing him until the Spring... I THINK Second Cook Susie Brooks is also at home but I'm not 100% sure... she was the last time I spoke to her but that was awhile ago... Is Joshua McInerney there down in Engineering? I'm not sure but if he is a big hello to him as well!

I'm going to take a look through these photos then have some work to do! I'll be back though so stay tuned!

12/28/2024

What's better to do on a rainy winter's day than to go through some photos? We have a lot of them to go through! Here Is the Tug Clyde S. VanEnkevort & Erie Trader Barge going up the Poe Lock 21 feet to the height of Lake Superior. This shot was taken right from the Original Soo Locks Boat tours. When the captain says get your cameras ready for a good shot, this is what you will see! :-)

12/28/2024

Freighter Friday! Here's another shot of M/V Mark W. Barker heading down to Mission Point here in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan! I hope you all have a great weekend! :-)

12/27/2024

A little video from early today of the Arthur M. Anderson calling in from Mission Point! Enjoy! :-)

12/26/2024

Nice aerial shot from DRE Designs - Great Lakes Marine Products of the Arthur M. Anderson! Thank you Andrea for sharing this with all of us! :-)

You had to know this was coming lol
Me and my straight on bow shots... I love the wide version of the shot which is what it really is but as soon as I crop it down it just looks so much more dramatic! And it's still a good file size so cropped it is! lol
It's the beautiful Arthur M Anderson in the Harbor this afternoon headed for the Poe Lock and on to Duluth to load iron ore pellets... She was almost still in the Harbor because of traffic so I had a lot of time to get a lot of shots of her which I'm thrilled I did... With very few Pilothouse forward ships remaining on the lakes I take every chance I can get to shoot them because you never know when the time will come for any one of them to call it a career... they are all getting up there in years and they get harder and harder to maintain the older they get...
The Anderson is a fan favorite so I'm glad I got to see her today and get as many shots as I did... Hope to catch her more before the season ends in a few weeks!

12/26/2024

We had the pleasure of watching Paul R. Tregurtha and the Herbert C Jackson passing each other right here in front of our dock! Love watching these freighters pass each other here on the St.Mary's River! :-)

12/26/2024

Here is another shot of the ISA heading down the St. Mary River from Rotary Park in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. We hope you all Have a great day and stay warm everyone!