Partner Partner Content Guardian of the Straits: Enbridge’s 10,000-ship milestone

The winds that whip through the Straits of Mackinac are legendary, reflecting the restless, unpredictable energy of the Great Lakes. They are waters that demand respect from even the most seasoned mariners. 

Yet, just inland at the Enbridge Straits Maritime Operations Center (ESMOC), the atmosphere is a stark contrast to the external elements. Inside, the air is thick with focused precision, defined by the steady hum of a vigilant crew and the quiet, rhythmic updates of maritime radio.

Last month, that persistent vigilance reached a historic milestone: the 10,000th ship was safely monitored and cleared through the Straits since the center assumed full 24/7 responsibility in April 2022. This operations center operates around the clock with a singular, vital mission—to protect the dual Line 5 pipelines from the primary risk of an anchor strike.

The vessel that marked this achievement was the Algoma Niagara, a 740-foot vessel commanded by Captain Arnesh Misra. In the pre-dawn hours of March 6, 2026, while carrying a cargo of road salt between Ontario and Milwaukee, the Niagara entered the line of sight of the ESMOC’s sophisticated tracking array. What followed was a high-precision safety protocol that has been perfected through thousands of repetitions.

The Protocol of Protection

As the Algoma Niagara approached the Mackinac Bridge, the ESMOC team executed a multi-layered verification process. First, an automated electronic message was transmitted to the ship’s bridge, notifying the crew they were entering a strictly enforced no-anchor zone. This was followed by a direct radio hail from an ESMOC crew member to Captain Misra, confirming that all anchors were physically secured and stowed.

Simultaneously, the facility’s technological “armor” went to work. High-definition infrared cameras and long-range radar units—integrated via the advanced SeaCOP platform—provided real-time visual confirmation. The team monitored the vessel’s trajectory and speed with mathematical certainty, ensuring that as the massive ship passed over the pipelines, no hazards were present.

“Algoma is honored that the Algoma Niagara was a part of this significant achievement,” said Jason Davenport, director for Vessel Traffic at Algoma Central Corporation. “Keeping the Great Lakes safe is a shared responsibility for everyone navigating these vital waterways.”

A Human Shield in a Digital Age

While the technology is world-class, the ESMOC is defined by its human element. The staff is comprised of seasoned maritime experts, many of whom, like Maritime Operations Specialist Mike Davanzo, bring decades of high-stakes experience to the desk. Davanzo, a retired U.S. Coast Guard Captain, views the center not just as a monitoring station, but as an educational outpost.

“Awareness leads to safety,” Davanzo explains. “Many voyagers—particularly those in smaller private craft—don’t realize there is a pipeline running along the lakebed. By being here and talking to these ships, we are increasing the collective knowledge of the Straits.”

The 10,000th ship milestone is even more impressive when considering the center’s evolution. In its early days, Enbridge crews initially established contact with vessels by boat, physically patrolling the sometimes choppy waters to hail captains. Davanzo estimates the crew made boat-to-boat contact with more than 5,000 vessels before the land-based ESMOC reached its current state of technological maturity.

 Today, the center monitors between 2,000 and 2,500 vessels annually, ranging from 1,000-foot ore carriers to nimble yachts, tugs, and an increasing number of international cruise ships that have returned to the lakes post-pandemic.

Beyond the Pipeline: A Community Resource

The ESMOC has also evolved into a critical asset for regional search and rescue. Because the center maintains a 24/7 view of the Straits, they are often the first to spot trouble. The team frequently assists the Coast Guard and local law enforcement during emergencies, ranging from locating overdue sailboats to coordinating the rescue of individuals from overturned jet skis.

During major regional events like the annual Mackinac Bridge Walk, the ESMOC acts as an extra set of eyes for state agencies, ensuring that the intersection of pedestrian traffic above and maritime traffic below remains seamless. “It’s a big job, and there was no mandate for us to do this,” Davanzo says. “But Enbridge’s philosophy is that we are here, we have these incredible resources, and we want to play a positive, proactive role in the community.”

The Permanent Solution: The Great Lakes Tunnel

While the ESMOC provides an immediate, robust layer of protection, Enbridge is simultaneously advancing the Great Lakes Tunnel Project as the permanent, ultimate solution to eliminate anchor strike risk entirely.

The project is an engineering marvel: boring a 4.1-mile tunnel through solid rock, approximately 100 feet beneath the lakebed. Once completed, a new 30-inch segment of Line 5 will be housed inside this reinforced concrete-lined tunnel. This configuration provides secondary containment and effectively reduces the risk of a release into the open water to zero.

As of early 2026, the project has reached a critical momentum phase. Enbridge has selected Mackinac Straits Partners—a joint venture between Barnard Construction and CBNA—to lead the construction. With the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expected to finalize federal permit decisions in the first half of 2026, construction is slated to ramp up shortly thereafter. 

Vigilance Until the End

Until the day the final segment of the new pipeline is tucked safely beneath the rock of the lakebed, the crew at ESMOC will continue their silent vigil. To mark the 10,000-ship milestone, the crew was issued a commemorative coin—a small token for a massive undertaking.

For Erica Fink, Enbridge Regional Operations Manager, the milestone is a testament to the “watch standards” who sit at the consoles every minute of every day. “Hats off to them,” Fink says. “They are doing incredible work to protect the energy on which Michiganders rely while keeping this waterway pristine.”

As the Algoma Niagara faded into the horizon toward Milwaukee, the ESMOC screens didn’t stay empty for long. Another blip appeared on the radar—vessel 10,001. The radio crackled to life, the hail was made, and the cycle of safety began once more.