Seaway opens 66th shipping season

Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.
Updated ·2 min read

Mar. 22—MASSENA — The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System opened its 66th navigation season on Friday.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. joined its partner, the Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation officially marked the season's onset at an opening ceremony of the binational waterway in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Algoma Central Corporation's MV Algoma Sault, a Seawaymax self-unloading bulk carrier built in 2018, was the first ship to transit through the lock at St. Catharines.

"The Seaway System, and the people operating it, have kept goods moving efficiently and reliably to and from America's heartland when we needed them most," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. "We're proud to open this year's navigation season for the Seaway System, and, along with our Canadian partners, support this critical part of our economy and global supply chain."

Speaking at the ceremony, USDOT's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy, Allison Dane Camden, GLS Administrator Adam Tindall-Schlicht, Parliamentary Secretary to the Canadian Minister of Transport, M.P. Vance Badawey, and SLSMC President/CEO, Terence Bowles, welcomed the transit of the first commercial vessel of the season.

"As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Wiley-Dondero Act this year, the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System's performance continues to highlight its resiliency and importance as a global maritime supply chain," said Administrator Adam Tindall-Schlicht. "An exceptional reliability record and significant investment in infrastructure and technology are enhancing efficiencies and have kept the Seaway System safe, sustainably minded, and competitive. We look forward to building on last season's accomplishments."

According to the Department of Transportation, the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System provides maritime commerce with reliable, efficient cargo movement supporting high-quality jobs in the U.S. and Canada. Through collaborative decarbonization initiatives, the Seaway System plays a critical role in addressing climate goals across North America. The movement of various cargoes on the Seaway System totals more than 135.7 million metric tons and supports more than 241,286 jobs and $36 billion in economic activity in the U.S. and Canada annually.

A ship transiting the Seaway System's 15 locks from Montreal to Lake Erie crosses the international border 27 times. Therefore, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Transport Canada work closely together to ensure that this transit experience is as safe and seamless as possible.