St. Lawrence Seaway sets opening dates in March
The 2006 navigation season will open on the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System for the Welland Canal at 8 a.m. on March 21, and for the Seaway's Montreal-Lake Ontario section on March 23.
The U.S. Sault Ste. Marie locks and canals will open March 25.
For the Welland Canal, the draft for vessels will be 26 feet-6 inches for all inland ships and those ocean vessels equipped with bow thrusters. For all ocean vessels not equipped with bow thrusters, the draft will be 26 feet-3 inches.
For the Montreal-Lake Ontario section of the Seaway, the same drafts will apply.
There will be zero tolerance for vessel drafts in excess of 26 feet-6 inches through the canal and for all of the Montreal-Lake Ontario section.