Joseph L. Block clears the Soo locks, kicks off shipping season

Editor's note: This story was produced for the ear and designed to be heard. If you're able, WCMU encourages you to listen to the audio. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

The Joseph L Block waits patiently on the Saint Mary's River Friday evening.

This 730-foot-long bulk carrier is the first in the line to pass through the locks this season, coming from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

At 6:00 p.m. — the official start of the season — the gates open.

And the Joseph L Block approaches, and steam hisses around the locks, melting any ice in the channel.

More than 70 million tons of cargo passed through the locks last year, according to Jeff Harrington. He's a Soo Area chief of operations with the US Army Corps of Engineers.

"Better than 95% of the nation's iron ore transits through this facility," Harrington said. "Most of that comes from the west end of Lake Superior, and it's hauled to steel mills that are on the Great Lakes."

Massive carriers like the Joseph L Block haul some of that iron ore.

"…And that forms a lot of the sheet steel that’s used in automotive production, it’s essential for defense items, consumers goods," Harrington said.

1 of 4  — Joseph L Block, Soo Locks, Shipping season

The Joseph L Block, secured to the Poe Lock, rises about 21 feet, enabling the freighter to reach Lake Superior. The Block is the first to pass through the Soo locks during the start of the Great Lakes shipping season in March 22, 2024.

Teresa Homsi / WCMU

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The Poe lock was originally constructed in 1896, and after the Saint Lawrence Seaway open, the lock was rebuilt in 1968 to accommodate larger ships. The lock is 800 feet long and 100 feet wide.

Teresa Homsi / WCMU

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The MacArthur Lock, currently dewatered for maintenance, will open April 24, 2024.

Teresa Homsi / WCMU

4 of 4  — Soo locks, shipping season, Great Lakes

The Joseph L Block sails into the sunset, toward Lake Superior, after bypassing the Soo locks.

Teresa Homsi / WCMU

Freighters also haul materials like limestone, coal and wheat through the locks. More than 160 million metric tons of commercial cargo are transported on the Great Lakes each year.

According to the Lake Carriers Association, a group that represents commercial shippers, if the region were its own country, it would have a GDP of $5.5 trillion, making it the third largest economy in the world.

"It's boats going back and forth, but it certainly is wide-ranging in its effects and truly essentially to the nation's economy," Harrington said.

Once the Block is secure, the locks are closed. In a control room, an operator monitors the system and grants ships passage, around the clock.

"I opened the upper end filling valves," the operator explained, turning a knob. "It will start the water flowing into the chamber."

The Block slowly rises as the water fills the locks, and men on the ship watch from above.

Teresa, shouting up at ship: "Do you take any pride in being the first to come through?"
Man: "Well, it's kinda nice that it happened this year. You know, I, I..."
Teresa: "It's not a career highlight?"
Man: "No, it's not a career highlight."
Teresa: "Well, have a safe trip!"
Man: "Alright, you too..."

As the crew waves goodbye to me and the large crowd on the public viewing platform, the freighter is raised 21 feet up — enough to reach Lake Superior.

"Maybe we'll see you next year!" they shout.

The Joseph L Block sails west into the sunset, toward Two Harbors, Minnesota. There, she'll pick up some iron ore before turning back to make a delivery in Cleveland.

More than 7,000 ships will follow her and pass through the locks this year.