Seaway Corporation News

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) announced it has taken delivery of its new 118-foot icebreaking tug, the Seaway Guardian, in Massena, N.Y. Built by Gulf Island Shipyards in Houma, La., the vessel is the first new tug to join SLSDC since the Seaway opened 61 years ago.The new $24 million tug will primarily be used for buoy maintenance and ice management on the St. Lawrence Seaway, replacing the long-serving 62-year-old Robinson Bay, which the SLSDC will maintain as backup.

Coast Guard aids to navigation teams throughout the Ninth Coast Guard District has begun restoring the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway aids to navigation system. Slightly more than 11 percent of the operation has been completed so far. Operation Spring Restore involves placing approximately 1,216 navigational aids, including lighted and unlighted buoys and beacons. Roughly half of the aids in the region are taken out of service during the winter months due to decreased vessel traffic and to minimize damage from ice and inclement weather. This is known as Operation Fall Retrieve.

Coast Guard aids to navigation teams throughout the Ninth Coast Guard District completed restoring the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway aids to navigation system, Friday, following a late start to the operation due to the extended ice season. Operation Spring Restore involves restoring approximately 1,222 navigational aids, including lighted and unlighted buoys and beacons. Roughly half of the aids in the region are taken out of service during the winter months due to decreased vessel traffic and to minimize damage from ice and inclement weather. This is known as Operation Fall Retrieve.

The Great Lakes-St. Vessel transits will be subject to weather and ice conditions. Restrictions may apply in some areas until lighted navigation aids have been installed. Sault Ste. Marie Locks and Canals United States Soo Locks will open March 25. In the Montreal / Lake Ontario Section, the draft will be 80.0 dm (26' 3") until the South Shore Canal is ice-free or April 15th, whichever occurs first, at which time, if water levels are favorable, the draft will be increased to 80.8 dm (26' 6") for all vessels. In addition, there will be zero tolerance for ship's draft in excess of 80.8 dm (26' 6"). Mariners are reminded that for ships loaded to a draft greater than 80.0 dm (26' 3"), speeds will be monitored carefully between St. Lambert Lock and St. Nicolas Island.

A 22-member binational delegation from the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System met today in London with Jean-Claude Sainlos, the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Director of Marine Environment. The delegation was lead by Seaway Corporation chiefs, Administrator Albert Jacquez of the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation and President and CEO Richard Corfe of the Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. The delegation discussed ballast water and aquatic invasive species issues, which is presenting the world’s marine community with a growing environmental challenge. The meeting underscored the importance of the partnership between the government and industry in the Great Lakes St.