[swaghauler]

Considering that the Freedom Class is being built in Wisconsin and the average lake freighter is about 750 FEET long, you can use a "blue water" vessel to do it.

The largest power distribution system in North America is located at Niagra Falls NY (and Ontario). The Canadian side produces 2 MILLION MW of power while the US plants produce 2.675 MILLION MW of power. This does NOT include the Wind Farms located on Lake Erie near Buffalo New York. This system powers the ENTIRE Northeastern US from Canada to the Atlantic Ocean.

The Lock System:

There are SEVEN locks on the ST. Lawrence Seaway. They are all built to the following dimensions: Length= 233.5m (766ft), Width= 24m (80ft), Depth= 9.14m (30ft).

The Welland Canal between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie is comprised of EIGHT locks which bypass the Falls. They are EXACTLY the same specification as the Seaway's canals and locks.

The Detroit and ST. Clair Rivers transits between Lake Erie west of Port Clinton OH through the very shallow lake ST. Clair and on into Lake Huron. There are no locks but navigable channels (8.2m/ 26.65ft) have been dredged in the rivers and the place is congested with LOTS of boat traffic.

There are FOUR locks on the ST. Marys River between Lake Huron and Lake Superior. They were originally linked by the SOO Lock System.
The POE Lock is for commercial traffic. It is 366m (1200ft) in Length, 34m (110ft) in Width, and 10m (32ft) in Depth.
The MacArthur Lock is also primarily used for commercial traffic. It is 224m (800ft) in Length, 24m (80ft) Wide, and 9m (29.5ft) Deep.
The Davis Lock is also located here. It is 411m (1350ft) Long, 24m (80ft) Wide, and 7m (23.1ft) Deep.
The Sabin Lock has been retired and is NOT used (in need of repairs).

The distance from the entry to the ST. Lawrence Seaway to Duluth Mn is 2340 miles and EVERY major city has a port and a dry dock of up to 700 feet in length.