As the 2025 shipping season was concluding early today, ice build-ups were causing big delays for vessels throughout the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System, notably in the stretch between Lake Ontario and Montreal. The Canadian Coast Guard was providing ice-breaking services.
Ice conditions in the MLO section are widespread throughout the system, including the lakes, canals, and anchorage areas, the Seaway System said, reporting that “at 23:59 January 3, the number of ocean vessels above St. Lambert was 13 as compared to 4 in 2024. Above Port Weller the number was 0 as compared to 0 in 2024.”
Latest information indicated that eight vessels were still trying to break through heavy ice in the waterway between Rivière Beaudette and the approaches to the Beauharnois locks.
As the removal of navigation aids in the Montreal-Lake Ontario section is in progress, Mariners are advised that one-way convoys are in effect on the lakes and in all canals, and anchorage availability is limited.
Pointe-Fortier and Saint-Zotique anchorages are limited to a maximum of three (3) vessels each. Mariners are advised to exercise particular caution when transiting the Beauharnois Canal.
Lockages in the South Shore Canal are now being conducted using traditional tie-up. Mariners will be required to deploy their mooring lines at the St. Lambert and Côte Ste. Catherine Locks.
In the Welland Canal and at the remainder of the MLO Locks, vessels must be prepared to deploy mooring lines, as ice accumulation on hulls may limit the use of HFM.
In a news release, the Lake Carriers’ Association, which represents US-flagged vessels, said ice was causing delays in at such ports as Duluth-Superior, Green Bay, Toledo and Sandusky and areas like the St. Marys River and the Straits of Mackinac.
The St. Lawrence Seaway opened its 67th navigation season on March 22. As of the end of November, total traffic of 32.6 million tonnes was up 0.9% from the corresponding period of 2024. Strong grain shipments offset a decline of steel-related cargoes impacted by President Trump’s tariff war.
(Photo of Algosolis oil tanker in Lac St Francois by Gabriel Leroux, Skye Media Quebec)