Last updated: 26 October 2026 · By Steve Joury, cargo trip advisor at CargoHolidays
Great Lakes freighters, or ‘lakers’, are long, narrow cargo ships built for North America’s Great Lakes; the biggest are about 1,000 feet long and carry iron ore, coal, limestone and grain. They’re a much-loved sight around the lakes. Here’s what makes them special.
Key facts at a glance
Great Lakes freighters are designed for the lakes, rivers and locks of the US–Canada waterway system. They’re long, slim and flat-bottomed, with the bridge traditionally at the bow and engines at the stern (newer designs often put everything aft). Because they never face ocean swells, they can be built much longer for their width than ocean ships.
| Cargo | Typical route |
|---|---|
| Iron ore (taconite pellets) | Minnesota and Michigan to steel mills on the lower lakes |
| Coal | To power stations and industry |
| Limestone | From Michigan quarries for steel and construction |
| Grain | From Duluth and Thunder Bay towards the St Lawrence |
| Salt and cement | To cities around the lakes |
About a dozen US-flag lakers are around 1,000 feet long. They are too big for the St Lawrence Seaway locks, so they never leave the upper lakes. The most famous laker of all is the Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank in a storm on Lake Superior on 10 November 1975 with all 29 crew – a reminder that the lakes can be as dangerous as any ocean. Compare sizes with the biggest ships in the world.
The Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie lift and lower ships between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. They close in mid-winter for maintenance, and most of the fleet lays up until spring. The season usually runs from late March to mid-January, with icebreakers keeping channels open at the start and end.
Use a ship tracker to time your visit – see how to track a ship.
The biggest are about 1,000 feet, or roughly 305 metres, long.
Mainly iron ore, coal, limestone, grain, salt and cement.
They are too large for the St Lawrence Seaway locks.
Usually from late March to mid-January, when the Soo Locks are open.
Very rarely. Ocean freighters to North America are a more realistic option.
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