65th Navigation Season: Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System Kicks Off

The binational waterway remains a cornerstone of international trade and cooperation, driving job creation, economic growth, and sustainability in North America.

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System (Seaway System) has launched its 65th navigation season, highlighting its key role in linking U.S. and Canadian Great Lakes ports to global markets.

The U.S. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) and its Canadian counterpart, the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC), commemorated the occasion at the St. Lambert Lock in Montreal, Canada, on Wednesday, March 22.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the Seaway System's significance in bolstering supply chains, creating jobs, and addressing climate change. "As we open the Seaway System’s 65th season, it remains a model of international cooperation and a cornerstone of America’s trade with the world," he stated.

GLS Administrator Adam Tindall-Schlicht and SLSMC President/CEO Terence Bowles, along with USDOT Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy Christopher Coes and Transport Canada Associate Deputy Minister Dominic Rochon, welcomed the first commercial vessel of the season. Tindall-Schlicht praised the Seaway System's resilience, advanced technology, infrastructure investments, and remarkable reliability, expressing optimism for a successful shipping season.

SLSMC President Terence Bowles underscored the Seaway's vital role in the North American supply chain, supporting industries and fostering sustainable development. With cutting-edge technology, the Seaway System ensures dependable transportation of essential goods and anticipates increased usage of this marine corridor in the coming years.

The Seaway System not only supports over 237,000 jobs and generates $35 billion in economic activity in the U.S. and Canada, but it also plays a critical role in North America's environmental goals. The maritime industry facilitated by the system's 15 locks moves over 35 million metric tons of cargo annually.

With vessels crossing the international border more than 40 times between Montreal and Lake Erie, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Transport Canada work in close partnership to ensure safe and efficient transit.

In a fitting tribute to the Seaway System's legacy, the first ship to pass through the St. Lambert Lock was the Capt. Henry Jackman, a Seawaymax Equinox Bulk Carrier built in 2021, operated by the Algoma Central Corporation.