According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, there were 240 ships and tugs that went through the Soo Locks between March 25, 2024, and Jan. 16, 2025. During that time, there were 3,651 total locks.

Abdullatif Ahmed recalls his journey from Yemen to working on the icy waters of the Great Lakes, where Yemeni sailors shaped the region’s maritime history.