Algoma Central Marine's Algoway coming through the canal (and Portage Lake, in front of our house). I would guess it was delivering salt to Houghton county.

Also, here is a link to some stats about the ship.

Constance

A beautiful shot - riding kind of high in the water though. I suppose my memory fails me, but I don't remember much salt being used on the highways of the UP when I lived there in the late 60's & early 70's - just miles and miles and mounds and mounds of snow -

Lovely picture. I remember the times when there were many, many of the ships going through the Portage system, and any time you went up the Keweenaw penninsula there were many to be seen out on the lake. Now it is truly a treat to see one. I was thrilled this summer when I was approaching Eagle River and saw one way out where they used to be very common.

I couldn't help saying, "Oooh", when I saw Friday's picture. As a teenager (over 50 years ago), I loved to see Great Lakes freighters. I remember staying up half the night at the Soo just watching the boats lock up and down. Thanks much.

Alaska Alice - Have you tried looking at the live cam at http://www.crrel.usace.army.mil/ierd/webcams/soo/ Real-time pictures of the soo locks. Thought you might want to know.

Thanks, Kathy. You're right. That's another one I'll add to my list. I appreciate the suggestion and will be a regular visitor there.

As a young adult I had the priviledge of sailing on three great lakes freighters i.e. CALVIN, OGLEBAY & FITZGERALD and making the trip through the canal quite often.It is true that most ships are gone now but the Soo lock link given above, along with WWW.boatnerd.com offer good views of those that have survived.

I saw the Algoway delivering salt here in St Joe/Benton Harbor this morning on my way to work. It seems that it is making the rounds of the Great Lakes.

I have really been struck by this picture. With all that is going on in our world, this is such a serene sight. The freighter barely making a ripple on the water, the beautiful miles of trees untouched by man or destruction. Just beautiful! What a gift the U.P. is!

Merry Xmas everyone ! Have a few moments and am presently watching one of the 1000 ftrs lock thru the Soo..1759,Dec 25/01....hope they having their Xmas dinner !!! Again, to all you boat watchers..all the best for the holidays and a great 2002 to all, Bill, ex Mondoc,Lachinedoc,Hamildoc,etc..

Hi my name is Garrett laFrance I live in St.Thomas Ontario and I would just like to say that my Uncle worked for Collingwood Shipyards And built the Algoway I am also building an RC freighter Based on the Algoway ,Algorail, and Agawa Canyon If anyone could send me any pics of the three ships it would be greatly appreciated Thank you for your time Bye.

Garrett, a search at http://Google.com will bring up pix of all three. Do three searches, but use Agawa Canyon ship for the third. Pix are in the first link each of the results.

The shipyards in Collingwood were established in the late 1880's .They were closed by Paul Martin only because the Conservative government at the time gave all government contracts to other shipyards in Quebec and Nova Scotia. The political persuasions of these two men destroyed Canada's most profiable shipyards.

The man I was referring to was Brian Mulroney the Prime Minister.