DAVID LAWRENCE

St. Lawrence Seaway Closes for Season

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System issued a Press Release stating that the St. Lawrence Seaway has closed for the 2003 navigation season. It carried approximately 41 million metric tons of cargo, about 1.3% less than 2002. Source: HK Law

New St. Lawrence Seaway Board Members & CEO

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation announced the following recent changes to its Board of Directors. Ian MacGregor assumed the position of Chair of the Board at the meeting of the Board held on August 18, 2010. MacGregor replaces Guy Véronneau, who recently left the Board after serving as Chair for the past four years. MacGregor is a director of Seaway Marine Transport and Chairman of Golden Star Resources Ltd.

Great Lakes: Ballast Water Reporting Regs

The US Coast Guard issued a Notice attempting to clarify the ballast water reporting requirements for foreign-flag vessels bound for the Great Lakes from outside the US exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Notice points out that the reporting requirement may be met either by submitting a properly completed Coast Guard Ballast Water Reporting Form to the USCG or by submitting a St. Lawrence Seaway “Pre-entry Information from Foreign Flagged Vessels Form” to the St. Lawrence Seaway

St. Lawrence Seaway Draft

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System issued a Notice stating that, effective May 24, the maximum allowable draft in the Montreal to Lake Ontario section will be increased to 80.8 dm (26’ 06”), subject to favorable water elevations. The draft increase will be for all inland ships and for ocean ships equipped with an operational bow thruster. For ocean ships not equipped with bow thrusters, the maximum allowable draft will be 80.0 dm (26’ 03”). Seaway Notice No. 10 of 2004 (HK Law)

St. Lawrence Seaway – mooring wire eye splices

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System issued a Notice reminding masters that mechanical eye splices on mooring wires for use on ships transiting the Seaway are not permitted. The eyes of mooring wires are to be of the ‘hand’ spliced construction or of the ‘Flemish’ construction only. Masters are to have mooring wire certificates available for inspection/verification. Seaway Notice No. 9 – 2004 (HK Law).

Senator Clinton Opposes Seaway Expansion

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton called on President Bush to abandon a Corps of Engineers study that could lead to what is being called a costly and environmentally harmful expansion of the St. Lawrence Seaway. In a letter to the President, Senator Clinton urged him to not request funding for the Great Lakes Navigation System Review in his upcoming fiscal year 2005 budget. "The St Lawrence Seaway is home to a pristine environment, a thriving local community and a burgeoning tourism industry

St. Lawrence Seaway Opens For Shipping Season

The St. Lawrence Seaway, which connects the Canadian-U.S. Great Lakes system to the Atlantic ocean, has reopened with the first ship of the 2000 season passing through this week, according to the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. said. Although low water levels in the Great Lakes Basin have shippers worried they may have to lighten loads, those concerns will not likely affect Seaway commerce until late in the summer, if at all, corporation president Guy Veronneau said.

Lawrence Graham Appoints New Partner

London-based law firm Lawrence Graham has appointed Charles Baker, an experienced maritime and trade lawyer, as a new partner. Baker, who has more than 25 years experience in maritime law, had previously been with Herbert Smith where he set up the Paris office of Holman Fenwick & Willan.

Fabrication Begins on Final Gulf

Fabrication of the 28th and last Arleigh Burke Class Aegis Destroyer contracted for Gulf Coast construction began on Oct. 18 at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems - Ingalls Operations shipyard, Pascagoula, Miss. Named for the late Vice Adm. William P. Lawrence, DDG 110 is scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010. Lawrence's widow, Diane Wilcox Lawrence, is the ship's sponsor. DDG 110 will be assigned to the Pacific Fleet.

USCG – Coordination of e-NOA/D with SLSDC

The USCG National Vessel Movement Center (NVMC) issued a news item stating that it is working with the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) to include their “at least 96 hours prior to westbound entry of the Saint Lawrence Seaway (SLS) at C.I.P. 2” notification into the USCG electronic Notice of Arrival and Departure (e-NOA/D) system. It is anticipated that this coordinated notification system will be implemented prior to the start of the 2008 SLS navigation season.