The Seaway Channel

The entities that operate the St. Lawrence Seaway took a moment during period celebrating the 50thAnniversary of the waterway to remind both supporters and critics that a high priority is place on operating the St. Lawrence Seaway in a way that is environmentally sound and sustainable.

In a prepared statement released earlier today, the Seaway entities remindedus that, "In this day and age, the marine mode, and the Seaway in particular, remains an ideal means of moving cargo, providing superior energy efficiency and a minimal greenhouse gas footprint. Moving cargo over water provides relief for our congested highways and rail systems and saves both lives and money. A recent U.S. and Canadian Government study concluded that the use of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway (GLSLS) saves consumers $3.6 billion per year in shipping costs. In addition, over 150,000 jobs on both sides of the border are dependent on GLSLS shipping."

The statement went on to highlight a joint U.S.-Canada ballast water management initiative that has already begun to yield results. The statement also took direct aim at some anti-shipping Seaway critics who have launched a publicity campaign to undermine the Seaway's 50th Anniversary celebrations by now openly calling for the international waterway to be shut down to ocean vessel traffic years after the introduction of the last invasive species in the Great Lakes.

The Seaway's statement explains the current ballast water inspection and enforcement regime thusly, "This is never truer than in respect to efforts put forward to eliminate the potential for introduction of invasive species in ship’s ballast water. Current Seaway regulations require every ship entering the Great Lakes to undertake saltwater flushing of its ballast tanks, a practice scientifically determined to be “highly effective” in killing freshwater organisms. Moreover, a bi-national inspection program assures that 100 % of the ballast tanks on ocean-going ships entering the GLSLSare inspected or verified to assure compliance with these regulations. The GLSLS has the most stringent ballast water inspection regime in the world and no unmanaged ballast water is entering the GLSLS. Since the progressive implementation of these ‘best practices’ in 2006, there have been no new invasive species reported."

The Seaway Channel applauds the efforts of both the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC)  and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSDC) to try to be responsible stewards of the Great Lakes environment. After all, the St. Lawrence Seaway's second fifty years is just getting underway.  

That a second Poe-sized lock at Sault Ste. Marie, MI will be a significant investment in America’s future and an outstanding return on taxpayers’ dollars was the message delivered by Great Lakes maritime industry officials earlier this week at ceremonies marking groundbreaking for the coffer dams that are the first step toward construction of the new lock.

This project creates “the economic equivalent of a small automobile plant,” said James H.I. Weakley, 1rst Vice President of Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, a coalition promoting waterborne commerce on the Great Lakes. The project also provides “national security benefits and economic stability for our mining, manufacturing and power-producing heartland, “declared Weakley, who is also President of Lake Carriers’ Association, the trade association representing U.S.-Flag vessel operators on the Great Lakes.’

Weakley noted Great Lakes shipping saves its customers $3.6 billion a year in transportation costs compared to the land-based modes. “In order to save the American consumer almost $4 billion, we have to maintain and protect the system. Over the past 15 years, proposed Federal budgets spent 50 cents for each ton of cargo moved on the Great Lakes, so the return on each dollar invested is nearly $41. Due to industry’s contributions, taxpayers fund only 3 cents per ton of cargo. Therefore, the American consumer sees a benefit of nearly $590 for each taxpayer dollar spent on the Great Lakes Navigation System.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers considers the Soo Locks the “single point of failure that could cripple Great Lakes shipping. Seventy percent of U.S.-Flag carrying capacity is restricted to the Poe Lock. If that chamber was incapacitated for even a short period of time, shipping on the Lakes would come to a virtual standstill.

First authorized in the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, the second Poe-sized Lock was again authorized in 2007, this time at full Federal expense. The lock is projected to cost $490 million and take as much as 10 years to build. Funding for construction of the lock itself still needs to be secured.

Today, July 1^st marks the observance of Canada Day. It is, in essence, Canada’s birthday as a nation and commemorates the founding of the Canadian Confederation 142 years ago today. Canada Day is the anniversary of the enactment of the British North America Act, signed into effect by Queen Victoria in 1867 creating the Dominion of Canada and cementing a bond between the Canada and the United Kingdom which thrives to this day.

As the anniversary of Confederation, Dominion Day, and later Canada Day, as it is now known, July 1 was the date set for a number of important events in Canadian history. These include such noteworthy events as the first national radio network hookup by the Canadian National Railway (1927), the date of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC) first nationwide television broadcast (1958), the first colour television transmission in Canada (1966), and the establishment of "O Canada" as the country's national anthem (1980) and the flooding of the St. Lawrence Seaway in preparation for it's opening to vessel traffic in 1958.

It should also be noted that The Seaway Channel was launched on July 1, 2007 and from that humble beginning just two years ago this experiment in publishing has become the world's most widely read publication about the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway maritime industry.

Our American friends will also celebrate Independence Day this Saturday. Two hundred and thirty-two years ago on July 4, 1776 the thirteen American colonies came to agreement on a Declaration of Independence from thier colonial overseers in England and a new nation was born. 

Despite the very different histories of Canada and the United States, it is somehow fitting that these two stories come together physically, historically and symbolically at the St. Lawrence Seaway. Happy birthday to all!   

The last week of June and the first week of July are full of historic milestones for the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway System. While the torpid economy may be putting a damper on Seaway traffic this year, it will take more than a trough in the economic cycle to lessen the celebratory atmosphere surrounding the Seaway's 50th Anniversary festivities.

Seaway historians, professionals and enthusiasts know that on June 26, 1959 Her Majesty's Royal Yacht Britannia made its stately procession through St. Lambert and Cote Ste. Catherine Locks with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and President Dwight D. Eisenhower aboard. The next day, on June 27th, official dedication ceremonies where held in Massena, NY and the modern St. Lawrence Seaway was born.

On Canada Day five years earlier, July 1, 1954 the Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Authority (SLSA) was established as a crown corporation by an act of Parliament that was passed in 1951. The St. Lawrence Seaway Authority continued to operate and administrate the Canadian sections of the St. Lawrence Seaway for nearly forty years until the Canada Marine Act of 1998 received royal assent on June 11, 1998 resulting in the dissolution of the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority and creation of the Canadaian St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) and the Federal Bridge Corporation were established to take over the responsibilities held by the SLSA.

Last week the SLSMC observed the St. Lawrence Seaway's 50th Anniversary with series of public events and commemorations in Cornwall, Niagaraand Montreal. Next week the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) will hold a series of events in Massena, NY beginning on July 9th and running through July 12th.

One of the things that gives grouping of people a sense of community is a shared history. For countless people across North America, the St. Lawrence Seaway's 50 years are an important part of that history. Celeberate the St. Lawrence Seaway's history, we at The Seaway Channel certainly will.      

As of the morning the Baltic Dry Freight Index stood at 3734.