Gott at the Soo

[a]

Interesting situation setting with gale force south winds for Lake Superior that should help shipping while a westerly storm on northern Lake Michigan will probably make things worse for the Alpena and Munson.

[Chris M]

They got moving around 0130 thanks to a wind shift.

[Paul A]

Dang, those boats are still stuck there. The ice must have really blown in with the current wind direction and jet stream.

[Denny]

Both Munson and Alder are above the locks and coming down now as I type this at 5:35 p.m. on March 27. Meanwhile heading up is the Algoma Olympic on their first run of the season. They are just below Mission Point and coming up their as I type is as well.

[Guest]

From the satellite photos it appears much of the plate ice on eastern Lake Superior is breaking up and getting pushed south by wind, so it's probably giving the Gott and the Blough a lot of trouble. Meanwhile, the Munson and Alder seem to be making good time in the track through Whitefish Bay, which appears to be stable for now.

[Paul A]

Ice must be really heavy at Whitefish Point. The Gott, Blough, Munson, Mackinaw and Alder have been in the same spot off the point most of this day.

[Alex]

The Gott should've moved aside and let the Blough lead the way.

[Paul A]

On the webcam it looks like its been going back and forth

They must be having a hard time getting the shoe box into the shipping box with all that ice! Glad to see some action.

[Denny]

The Gott would still be considered the first upbound vessel as they base their reports on first arrivals at the Soo Locks. Therefore the Gott was the first vessel to arrive at the Soo Locks for the 2015 shipping season even though I guess she hasn't locked completely through just yet at last report. As for the first vessel downbound, it is expected to be the John G. Munson whenever she arrives at the Soo Locks in the next few days. Hope that this information helps.

[Guest]

On the webcam it looks like its been going back and forth

[JohnH]

Noticed today that the Gott got mostly through the Poe lock upbound, then now is backing out downbound. Now, is it the first upbound, or the first downbound, or both?