[Eric in the Ozarks]

Crude oil was transported by lakes-going tankers from Superior to refineries in the US and Canada up till the early 1950s when the Interprovincial pipe was laid east of Superior. If there was a spill during the early years, it went unreported.
My old time tanker captain remembered the tankers at anchor, waiting their turn in Superior Harbor. I bought heavy oil several times a year in 50,000 bbl tankers from Sarnia, up to my tanks at Superior and Taconite Harbor to fuel steamships.

[DManA]

You are no doubt aware that Embridge is building a new pipeline from N. Dakota to Superior. The Sandpiper line. On line in 2015 I think?

[Hot Tabasco]

I bought heavy oil several times a year in 50,000 bbl tankers from Sarnia, up to my tanks at Superior and Taconite Harbor

I grew up on Lake Charlevoix and I remember the coal freighters coming into the lake to bring coal to the power company on the lake and the tannery which was located at the far eastern end of it......

I never gave much thought to it then so I can't remember how big the freighters were, but obviously small enough to get thru the channel in Charlevoix from Lake Michigan......