CCGS Montmorency, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 1972

This authentic 1970s colour photograph, captured in 1972, documents the CCGS Montmorency as it navigates the Sault Ste. Marie Canal (Soo Locks) in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The archival image features the stern of the vibrant red Canadian Coast Guard vessel, clearly displaying its name and home port of Ottawa under a fluttering Canadian flag. The ship is shown with its white superstructure, lifeboats, and maritime rigging, creating a wake in the dark canal water. In the background, a stone canal wall and a small blue-doored utility building sit along the bank, bordered by autumn foliage in shades of gold and orange. The Soo Locks are a vital engineering marvel that allow ships to bypass the rapids of the St. Marys River between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes. The CCGS Montmorency, a buoy tender and search-and-rescue vessel, served the Canadian Coast Guard for decades before being decommissioned and sold for private use in the mid-2000s; however, the Sault Ste. Marie Canal and the lock system are still standing today and remain a critical artery for North American maritime commerce. This factual record preserves a moment of international cooperation and maritime history on the Great Lakes during the early seventies. All our images are available as royalty-free instant downloads for use in books, media, and creative projects – or make your own prints for home, work, or as a truly unique gift.