The Soo Locks is now closed ... ending the shipping season.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the last ship passed through the locks on January 15.

Officials say the total cargo carrier amounts were down a little more than 33-percent as compared to last year. Iron Ore was the most frequent cargo carried through the locks.

More than eight billon tons of cargo have passed through the locks since 1855.

During the lock closure, the Soo crews will be working on providing maintenance to the Poe Lock which entails sandblasting and painting, completing plumbing and preventative maintenance on the hydraulic system and associated components, repairing parts on safety booms, replacing fender timbers, and other general maintenance.

The locks will reopen to ship traffic on March 25 at 12:01 a.m.