Lake Freighter - Lakers Vs. Salties

Lakers Vs. Salties

Due to the Saint Lawrence Seaway, lakers have access to the ocean, and ocean-going vessels have access to the Lakes. Visiting ocean-going vessels are called "salties."

Due to their additional beam, very large salties are never seen inland of the Saint Lawrence Seaway. Because the smallest of the Soo Locks is larger than any Seaway lock, salties that can pass through the Seaway may travel anywhere in the Great Lakes. Similarly, the largest lakers are confined to the Upper Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie) because they are too large to use the Seaway locks, beginning at the Welland Canal that bypasses the Niagara River.

Because of their deeper draft and the lower buoyancy of fresh water, salties may accept partial loads on the Great Lakes, "topping off" upon exiting the Seaway.