[Alberta's Child]

Interesting news. The biggest constraint is the lock systems throughout the Great Lakes. Under the political pressure from the North American railroad industry, they were never built to accommodate ships that are commonly used in international shipping today. Crude oil from the center of North America must be trading at a huge discount in order to make up for these major inefficiencies in transportation costs.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The locks had and have little to do with the lack of international size ships transiting the lakes. 28 foot draft might be more of a reason. Plus the Welland Canal limits lake shipping to about 75 feet width.

[Maine Mariner]

Excellent Observations about the locks at the Welland Canal and Sault Saint Marie, Michigan. There is one further problem. Depth of the lakes and channels. Ships using the Great Lakes whether lake ore boats carrying iron ore or other bulk products and ocean going ships can load to a draft of about 25 feet. About half the draft for ships that call on ocean ports.

[UB355]

vs hauling it halfway around the world?

[Sacajaweau]

the great lakes have locks?

[FreedomPoster]

There was an article here in the last few days talking about using rail to take Bakken crude to the East Coast, instead of to the south. The differential was on the order of $25 or $30 a bbl IIRC.