St. Marys Falls Canal and Locks, Michigan; Use, Administration and Navigation

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is amending its regulations on procedures to navigate the St. Marys Falls Canal and Soo Locks at Sault St. Marie, Michigan to incorporate changes in navigation procedures published in Notice to Navigation Interests over the last three years. The St. Marys Falls Canal and Locks navigation regulation is amended to change the location where up bound vessels seeking passage through the Soo Locks request lock dispatch. This regulation also establishes the minimum number of line handlers that vessels should have while locking through the Soo Locks, place a restriction on the use of bow/stern thrusters while transiting through the Soo Locks, add a procedure for vessels departing from the MacArthur and Poe Locks simultaneously or at approximately the same time, and add a tug assist procedure for self-powered vessels.