Soo Linehandling

building our reputation for more than a century…line by line

Soo Line­han­dling Ser­vices, Inc. pro­vides line­han­dling assis­tance to ves­sels tran­sit­ing the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michi­gan on the St. Mary’s Riv­er, the only water con­nec­tion between Lake Supe­ri­or and the oth­er Great Lakes.  The Com­pa­ny pro­vides trained and ful­ly equipped line­han­dlers to meet ves­sel and Lock­mas­ter require­ments for a ves­sel’s safe tran­sit though the Locks. Often­times, line­han­dling ser­vices are ordered and coor­di­nat­ed with require­ments for tug­boat assis­tance pro­vid­ed by Group affil­i­ate, The Great Lakes Tow­ing Com­pa­ny. Ves­sels equipped with bow thrusters and fric­tion winch­es require two (2) line­han­dlers on the piers under nor­mal weath­er con­di­tions and three (3) under severe weath­er con­di­tions. If a ves­sel is expe­ri­enc­ing mechan­i­cal prob­lems or extreme severe weath­er sit­u­a­tions, the Lock­mas­ter may require four (4) line­han­dlers on the pier for a ves­sel’s tran­sit.  Vis­it the USACE Engi­neer Research and Devel­op­ment Cen­ter’s web­cams for live views of line­han­dlers and tugs assist­ing ves­sels in their tran­sit through the locks and on the river.