ESCANABA — The ore freighter Cason J. Calloway has spent the winter docked at Escanaba’s North Shore Marine Terminal and logistics. It is part of a process that takes place throughout the ports of the Great Lakes.

Shipping ended on the Great Lakes with the winter closure of the Soo Locks for maintenance. Like the Soo Locks, the Great Lakes fleet spends January through March at port undergoing maintenance and repairs.

That is winding down with the anticipated opening of the Soo Locks later this month.

The annual process of maintaining the U.S.-flagged fleet of “Lakers” on the Great Lakes began in mid-January after the navigational locks connecting Lake Superior to the lower lakes closed for repairs. U.S. companies will invest more than $120 million into their vessels bringing skilled labor to shipyards and repair facilities around the Great Lakes states, according to the Great Lakes Career Association. The state receiving the largest sum was Wisconsin with $55 million followed by Ohio with $39 million, Pennsylvania at $19 million, and $7 million in Michigan.

“It is truly an amazing system where U.S. Lakers sail non-stop between March and January delivering as much cargo as possible before entering a two-month repair period. The work is not only vital to maintaining the U.S. fleet but also to the communities where it is performed bringing excellent paying, hardworking jobs to everyday Americans,” said Jim Weakley, president of the Lake Carriers Association.

Engineers carefully inspect each vessel and execute any needed repairs while also upgrading systems and crew quarters. Major investments have been made to improve habitability onboard the vessels including wireless communications.  State-of-the-art electronics will be refreshed including navigational computers and propulsion control systems. Hull plating will be replaced with steel made from iron ore that was shipped by the vessels to steel mills during the season.

Thanks to milder winter temperatures across the Great Lakes region the work will was a little less daunting this year.