Michigan borders on four of the five Great Lakes (Michigan, Erie, Huron and Superior), which makes it one of the most-visited areas in the Midwest for freighter traffic. Ports like Marquette, Calcite, Grand Haven, Alpena and Port Huron see ships on almost a daily basis, but the Soo Locks remain the best place to see these massive vessels in action. At the locks in Sault Ste. Marie, boats must wait in the locks as the water level is raised or lowered to complete the journey from Lake Superior to Lake Huron. Check out our list of some of the Best Places for Boatwatching Freighter Watching in Sault Ste. Marie to find out how to get to Rotary Park and other locations. Opportunities for sightings abound between Detroit and Port Huron if you follow the shoreline, and in Marquette the upper ore dock gives a chance to watch large freighters load iron ore up close.
One of the best resources for boatwatching is the website boatnerd.com, which offers up to the minute tracking of freighter on the Great Lakes and records sightings at major ports. A copy of Roger LeLievre’s annual book Know Your Ships is also a handy companion before you head out – it will help you find out more about the boats you’re seeing, including length, ownership, likely cargo and the year it was built. The 2017 edition is available now! We’ve put together a small gallery of some of our photos of freighters over the years, and we’re always looking forward to the next sighting. Boats are listed by name with owner and home country in parentheses and a short description of where they were photographed. We hope you enjoy seeing our favorite freighters of Michigan’s Great Lakes waters!
Sloman Hermes (Sloman Neotun Shiffahrts – Germany) photographed from Port Huron
Algocanada (Algoma Central – Canada) downbound at Port Huron
Lakes Contender/Ken Boothe Sr. (American Steamship Co., USA) upbound St. Mary’s River
Frontenac (Canada Steamship Lines, Canada) downbound near Sugar Island
HHL Amur (Hansa Heavy Lift, Germany) leaving Muskegon
Michipicoten (Lower Lakes Towing, Canada) upbound St. Mary’s River in fall
Spruceglen (Canada Steamship Lines, Canada) viewed from Port Huron
Cuyahoga (Lower Lakes Towing) downbound at Port Huron
US Coast Guard Mackinaw, docked in Cheboygan
Herbert C. Jackson (Interlake Steamship Co., USA) upbound St. Mary’s River
Solina (Polish Steamship Co., Poland) passes under Mackinac Bridge
Robert S. Pierson (Lower Lakes Towing, Canada) in St. Mary’s River
Catherine Desgagnes (Groupe Desgagnes, Canada) upbound St. Mary’s River
Michipicoten (Lower Lakes Towing, Canada) at Marquette Ore Docks
Algoma Equinox (Algoma Central, Canada) in the St. Mary’s River
Algoway (Algoma Central – Canada) near Port Huron
Kwintebank (Pot Scheepvaart BV, Netherlands) downbound St. Mary’s River
BBC Volga (Briese Schiffahrt, Germany) in the St. Mary’s River
American Century (American Steamship Company, USA) downbound St. Mary’s River
McKee Sons (Lower Lakes Towin, Canada) in St. Mary’s River at sunset
Federal Katsura (International Navigation Co., Cyprus) in St. Mary’s River
Great Republic (Great Lakes Fleet, USA) at Marquette Ore Dock
Mississagi (Lower Lakes Towing, Canada) docked in Alpena
Canadian Navigator (now Algoma Navigator, Algoma Central, Canada) in Soo Locks
Sloman Herakles (Sloman Neotun Shiffahrts – Germany) photographed from Port Huron
Tecumseh (Lower Lakes Towing) upbound in the Detroit River
Michigan/Great Lakes (U.S. Venture Inc., USA) arriving at Cheboygan
Walter S. McCarthy (American Steamship Co.) at Marquette upper harbor ore dock
Philip R. Clarke (Great Lakes Fleet, USA) arriving at Calcite
Integrity and G.L. Ostrander (Lafarge North America) downbound at Port Huron
James R. Barker (Interlake Steamship Co., USA) downbound near Port Huron
Federal Oshima (Fednav International) passing Belle Isle
