Ship Transits Seaway’s St. Lambert Lock Bringing Vital Goods to Market
April 1, 2020
St. Lambert, Quebec (April 1, 2020) – The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) marked the opening of its Montreal / Lake Ontario section today, with the transit of the CSL Baie St. Paul through the St. Lambert Lock.
“With the COVID-19 outbreak, we are living in exceptional times. As the 2020 navigation season gathers momentum, we continue to witness a tremendous response by our employees and members of the broader marine community in overcoming a range of challenges” said Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the SLSMC. “The St. Lawrence Seaway provides an essential transportation service that literally feeds nations around the world, including Canada and the U.S., and supplies the inputs which keep many of our industries operating. We will strive to do our part during this difficult period.”
The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation continues to work closely with Transport Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and many other authorities. A series of comprehensive practices and procedures are in place to manage risk and minimize all non-essential interactions between personnel in view of COVID-19.
The Seaway’s Welland Canal section opened on March 24th this year, eight days before the opening of the Montreal / Lake Ontario section. This hybrid approach respected the desire of the International Joint Commission to move record volumes of water out of Lake Ontario in order to provide relief to lakeshore communities battered by high water levels.
Quick Facts:
- The Great Lakes St. Lawrence River System is a “marine highway” that extends some 3,700 km from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. Over 200 million tonnes of cargo travels over the System on an annual basis, supporting over 329,000 jobs and $59 billion in economic activity in Canada and the United States.
- The binational St. Lawrence Seaway serves as the linchpin within the broader waterway, connecting the lower St. Lawrence River to the Great Lakes. Beginning in Montreal and extending to points west, the Seaway’s 15 locks (13 Canadian and 2 U.S.) enable ships to climb a total of 168 metres from “sea level” up to Lake Erie. For more information on the St. Lawrence Seaway, please consult www.greatlakes-seaway.com.
About The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation:
- The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation was established in 1998 as a not-for-profit corporation by the Government of Canada, Seaway users and other key stakeholders. In accordance with provisions of the Canada Marine Act, the Corporation manages and operates the Canadian assets of the St. Lawrence Seaway, which remain the property of the Government of Canada.