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The St Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation News

22 Mar 2024

St. Lawrence Seaway Opens Navigation Season

© Ravi / Adobe Stock

The St. Lawrence Seaway opened its 66th season of operation today with an official ceremony in Niagara Region.Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) was joined by U.S. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Development Corporation Administrator Adam Tindall-Schlicht in welcoming the many who came out for the event, including M.P. Vance Badawey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Canadian Minister of Transport.“We are thrilled to have a renewed Management Operations and Maintenance Agreement with the Government of Canada.

11 Jul 2023

Welland Canal Ship Traffic Resumes

© eranda / Adobe Stock

Two-way marine traffic resumed Monday night on the Welland Canal in Ontario, Canada after a power outage on Sunday led to a temporary suspension of navigation.The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC), which manages and operates the Canadian assets of the St. Lawrence Seaway, said its maintenance personnel and contractors were able to restore service to Lock 1 by Monday afternoon and reopen Lock 7 by 10:30 p.m. that night.No one was harmed at any point during the outage or repair operations…

10 Jul 2023

Ship Traffic Halted After Power Outage Hits Welland Canal

© skyf / Adobe Stock

Vessel traffic through Ontario's Welland Canal has ceased after a power outage damaged equipment in two of its locks, the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) said.The not-for-profit corporation, which manages and operates the Canadian assets of the St. Lawrence Seaway, said the outage occurred at 5:50 p.m. on Sunday, damaging hands-free mooring equipment in Locks 1 and 7. "SLSMC took immediate steps to ensure the safety of the public, personnel, vessels, infrastructure and the environment…

16 Sep 2020

Grain Shipments via St. Lawrence Seaway Climb

CSL Frontenac loading grain at the Port of Thunder Bay. Photo Credit: Michael Hull, Chamber of Marine Commerce)

Canadian grain shipments through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway trade corridor are up 20% in response to continuing world demand for wheat and canola, the latest figures show.Year-to-date shipments of grain (from April 1 to August 31) totaled 5.2 million tonnes, as ships transported Prairie wheat and canola and Ontario wheat and soybeans for both domestic use and for export to markets around the world.The rush of grain, which is carry over from last year’s crops, has helped to offset continuing pandemic-related declines in other key cargoes such as iron ore (down 23%)…

25 Mar 2020

St. Lawrence Seaway/Great Lakes Shipping Season Commences

© Daniel / Adobe Stock

The St. Lawrence Seaway’s 62nd navigation season kicked off on Tuesday with the transit of the Canadian-flagged cement carrier NACC Argonaut through Lock 8 on the Welland Canal.Then, in the early hours on Wednesday morning, first U.S.-flag commercial vessel transited the locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., signaling the start of the U.S. fleet's 2020 sailing season.The Seaway’s Montreal / Lake Ontario section will open on April 1 this year, eight days after the opening of the Welland Canal.

18 Jan 2019

Seaway Activity Exceeds 40 Million Tonnes in 2018

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) has announced that tonnage on the waterway during the 2018 navigation season totaled 40.9 million tonnes. The highest result since 2007, much of the credit for the increase in tonnage can be given to healthy movements of grain, the best on record since the turn of the century. Marketing efforts under the “Highway H2O” initiative served as a catalyst to spur increased movements of a broad range of cargoes including grain, road salt, stone, cement, gypsum and refined fuels.The 2018 navigation season concluded on December 31st, with the transit of the Cedarglen through the Welland Canal’s Lock 8 ‎at 12:35, heading for Lake Erie. In the Montreal sector, the M.V. Floragracht was the last ship to transit, clearing the St.

09 Jan 2019

Seaway Tolls, Wharfage Charges both to Increase by 1.0% in 2019

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) announced a toll rate increase of 1.0% for the 2019 navigation season.Tariffs:The new revised tariff will be posted and available on the Seaway website today.Wharfage Charges:The St. Lawrence Seaway Wharfage and Storage Charges have been revised for the 2019 navigation season. Effective with the commencement of the 2019 navigation season, Wharfage Charges will increase 1%.The revised Tariff will be available today on the Web…

19 Oct 2018

St. Lawrence Seaway Workers Ratify Contract

A St. Lawrence Seaway bulk vessel (SLSMC)

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) has announced that its unionized employees, members of UNIFOR, ratified a three-year labor agreement covering the period of April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2021.Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the SLSMC, praised the negotiating teams for achieving another multi-year agreement, and said, “A fair labor settlement was reached earlier this month, enabling the St. Lawrence Seaway to continue providing uninterrupted service to the thousands of entities that depend upon marine transportation…

05 Jun 2018

Tanker Refloated in St. Lawrence Seaway

A 17,000 dwt product tanker that ran aground in the St. Lawrence Seaway last week has been refloated and pulled free from the edge of the waterway.The Marshall Islands flagged Chem Norma was refloated Sunday after running aground near Morrisburg, Ontario last Tuesday. The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) said the ship is undergoing an inspection process to ensure that it is ready to resume its transit.The 145-meter Chem Norma, carrying refined petroleum products, went aground at 4:09 AM on Tuesday, May 29, due to an issue with its rudder. The vessel came to rest against the edge of a designated anchorage area and was not blocking any traffic. No injuries or pollution have been reported.Among the federal and provincial authorities involved in the response were The St.

30 Mar 2018

St. Lawrence Seaway Navigation Season Begins

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation marked the opening of the Seaway’s 60th navigation season today, with the transit of the newly built Algoma Niagara through Lock 3 on the Welland Canal. State-of-the-art ships such as the Algoma Niagara serve as a key part of the supply chain serving to bolster the competitiveness of North American industry. Over 227,000 jobs are supported by cargo moving over the Great Lakes / Seaway System. Terence Bowles, President and CEO of The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC), noted in his opening address that 2018 marked both the 60th navigation season for the waterway and the 20th anniversary of the SLSMC. Created in 1998 as a not-for-profit corporation, the SLSMC succeeded the former St. Lawrence Seaway Authority.

28 Dec 2017

Coast Guard Responds to Grounded Vessel in St. Lawrence Seaway

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation are responding to the motor vessel Pacific Huron, loaded with soybean, that ran aground late Wednesday in the Saint Lawrence Seaway near Wellesley Island, New York. The forward portion of the 623-foot motor vessel is aground and their stern anchor is deployed. The vessel is 1,000 feet outside of the channel. There are no reported injuries to the crew, and no reported leaks, pollution, or flooding on the vessel. The seaway is continuing to manage traffic around the vessel through the navigation channel. Inspectors from the SLSDC, the Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation and a marine inspector from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Massena…

17 Oct 2017

St. Lawrence Seaway Cargo Volumes Buoyant

The Canada-flag Algolake loading wheat at the CHS elevator in the Port of Duluth-Superior. (Photo by: Terry White / Chamber of Marine Commerce)

As marine shipping continues to support the growth of the Canadian and U.S. economies, St. Lawrence Seaway cargo shipments to-date for 2917 are 14 percent ahead of 2016 volumes. Total cargo tonnage from March 20 to September 30 reached 24.3 million metric tons – 3 million metric tons more compared to the same period in 2016, according to The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. “Our results point to the strength of the Canadian and U.S. economies. Export shipments of mined products such as iron ore and dry bulk via the Seaway have grown dramatically this year…

15 Aug 2017

US Iron Ore Shipments Remain Strong

Photo credit: Mike Gibby Besko

Iron ore, dry bulk cargo and general cargo shipments remain strong on the St. Lawrence Seaway, with overall tonnage up 18 percent over last year. The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation reports that cargo shipments from March 20 through July 31 totaled more than 16 million metric tons – up 2.5 million metric tons over the same period in 2016. “We continue to see demand for raw materials that are needed for construction and in the manufacturing and automotive industries,” said Bruce Burrows, President of the Chamber of Marine Commerce.

19 Jul 2017

US Iron Ore Boosts St. Lawrence Seaway Shipping

© johnsroad7 / Adobe Stock

With strong increases in iron ore and other cargo, total tonnage shipped via the St. Lawrence Seaway is up 20 percent over last year. The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation reports that cargo shipments from March 20 to June 30 totaled more than 12 million metric tons – up two million metric tons over the same period in 2016. “St. Lawrence Seaway shipping is a bellwether for the health of the overall U.S. and Canadian economies and reflects strong demand for raw materials to support the automotive…

18 Jul 2017

Canada Extends St. Lawrence Seaway Agreement

Canadian transport minister Marc Garneau announced a five-year extension to the Government of Canada’s agreement with the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation to manage, maintain and operate the Seaway. This extends the existing agreement until March 31, 2023, and will provide stability for the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation and the marine shipping industry. A vital artery between the Great Lakes and the lower St. Lawrence River, the St. Lawrence Seaway connects the heartland of North America to the world as an important, competitive and sustainable transportation corridor. The St. Lawrence Seaway consists of 15 locks and connecting canals or channels extending from Montreal to Lake Erie. Within the Great Lakes and St.

21 Mar 2017

St. Lawrence Seaway Navigation Season Open

The U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) and the Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation have jointly marked the opening of the Seaway’s 59th navigation season. The official opening ceremony of the binational waterway took place on March 20 at the St. Lambert Lock in Montreal with Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau attending as honored guest and SLSMC President and CEO Terence Bowles and SLSDC Deputy Administrator Craig H. Middlebrook addressing the gathering. “The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System is a tremendous asset that provides a safe and efficient means of moving cargo worldwide,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao.

07 Mar 2017

Canadian Fleets, Seaway Invest $160 Mln for 2017 Season

File photo: Thunder Bay Port Authority / Chamber of Marine Commerce

Canadian ship owners and the St. Lawrence Seaway have spent an estimated $160 million on repair and infrastructure projects this winter, boosting the economic fortunes of communities throughout the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence and east coast, according to the Chamber of Marine Commerce. Canadian ship owners have invested an estimated $70 million to maintain and upgrade their vessels during the winter months — an annual exercise that keeps their vessels in tip-top shape to safely and efficiently deliver goods for North American businesses. The St.

25 Jan 2017

St. Lawrence Seaway Tolls to Rise 2%

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) announced a toll rate increase of 2 percent for the 2017 navigation season.

17 Jan 2017

Seaway Records Longest Navigation Season

After opening the 2016 season on March 21, the St. Lawrence Seaway closed on December 31, enjoying a navigation season of 286 days. This performance ties the record first established in 2008 and matched in 2013 for the longest navigation season. The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation recorded a total of 35 million tonnes of cargo transiting the Seaway’s locks in 2016. Grain movements posted a strong performance for a third consecutive season, contributing 11 million tonnes of the total and continuing to track well above the five-year average. The Port of Thunder Bay, the principal point of entry for grain into the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System, reported a late-season surge in grain activity, as loadings in December trumped all previous December activity since 1995.

23 Mar 2016

Seaway Opens 58th Navigation Season Ice Free

Photo courtesy of SLSMC

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) marked the opening of the Seaway’s 58th navigation season, with the transit of Canada Steamship Lines’ Thunder Bay through Lock 3 on the Welland Canal. The ship, carrying a load of road salt, will be replenishing stocks depleted by ice storms which repeatedly struck Eastern Canada over the winter. “We certainly welcome the warmer weather. A return to an opening in the third week of March provides our clients with the opportunity to move cargo in a timely manner…

22 Mar 2016

Seaway Opens 58th Navigation Season

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) marked the opening of the Seaway’s 58th navigation season today, with the transit of Canada Steamship Lines’ Thunder Bay through Lock 3 on the Welland Canal. The ship, carrying a load of road salt, will be replenishing stocks depleted by ice storms which repeatedly struck Eastern Canada over the winter. “We certainly welcome the warmer weather. A return to an opening in the third week of March provides our clients with the opportunity to move cargo in a timely manner, and make the most of the navigation season” said Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the SLSMC. Allister Paterson, President of Canada Steamship Lines, served as the keynote speaker at the opening.

18 Mar 2016

St. Lawrence Seaway Opening Ceremony March 21st

Shipping Season to Open Two Weeks Earlier — And Ice Free. Terence Bowles, CEO of The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, will kick off the St. Lawrence Seaway’s 58th navigation season with his outlook for the year at an Official Opening Ceremony in St. Catharines, Ontario on Monday, March 21st, 2016.  Allister Paterson, President of Canada Steamship Lines, whose state-of-the-art Trillium-class vessel the Thunder Bay will be the first ship of the season, will serve as the keynote speaker. Se Other speakers include Francois Allard, Director Marine Distribution for K + S Windsor Salt Ltd., whose salt is this first cargo and who will be discussing the importance of the Seaway, and Betty Sutton, Administrator of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (United States).

09 Feb 2016

All Ships’ Ballast Water Checked in Great Lakes Seaway

The Great Lakes Ballast Water Working Group (BWWG) released its 2015 Summary of Great Lakes Seaway Ballast Water Management activities Thursday. During 2015, 100 percent of vessels bound for the Great Lakes Seaway from outside the Exclusive Economic Zone received a ballast water management exam. In total, the BWWG assessed all 8,361 ballast tanks on the 455 vessels that transited during the 2015 navigation season. The Great Lakes Seaway Ballast Water Working Group is a binational collection of representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, Transport Canada - Marine Safety & Security and the Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation.