Opening date of the 2023 navigation season and maximum allowable drafts
The opening date for the 2023 navigation season is scheduled to take place on the following dates and time:
- Montreal / Lake Ontario Section: March 22, 2023 – 0800 hours (D.S.T.)
- Welland Canal: March 22, 2023 – 0800 hours (D.S.T.)
Ship transits will be subject to weather and ice conditions. Restrictions may apply in some areas until lighted navigation aids have been installed.
Sault Ste. Marie Locks and Canals
Opening of the Sault Ste. Marie Locks (U.S.A.) is currently scheduled for March 25, 2023. Please note the Notice to Navigation Interests released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for further information.
Allowable Draft
In the Montreal / Lake Ontario Section, the maximum allowable draft will be 80.0 dm (26′ 3″). The maximum draft will be increased to 80.8 dm (26′ 6″) for all ships when the South Shore Canal is icefree and when water levels are favorable.
In the Welland Canal, a maximum allowable draft of 80.8 dm (26′ 6″) will be in effect from the start of the navigation season for all ships.
Ships equipped with an approved and operational draft information system will be permitted to transit at a draft of up to 7cm above the maximum allowable draft.
There will be zero tolerance for ships to transit at drafts in excess of those specified in this Notice.
– St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (February 14, 2023)
Wisconsin awards $5.3 million in harbor maintenance grants
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, together with the state’s Department of Transportation (WisDOT), announced grants totaling $5.3 million for seven harbor maintenance and improvement projects to promote waterborne freight and economic development.
“From the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River, Wisconsin’s unique geography provides our state opportunities to grow our economy and help our businesses reach markets worldwide,” said Gov. Evers. “These grants will help maintain our harbors and ensure our ports are secure and reliable, all while strengthening our supply chains and our commitment to our port cities.”
“Strong multimodal transportation infrastructure positions Wisconsin’s businesses to succeed in a global economy,” WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson said. “We are committed to improving our ability to move freight, and our harbors are a critical part of this strategy.”
Projects supported by the $5.3 million in Harbor Assistance Program (HAP) grants include:
- Perch Point LLC., Port Milwaukee – $540,000 to construct a dock wall to support the movement and delivery of shoreline protection materials along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
- Port of Green Bay – $1,000,000 to stabilize the existing shoreline with bulkhead fill and dock wall construction on new Port property located at the mouth of the Fox River.
- Hanke Terminals, La Crosse – $200,000 to repair a failing dock wall used to export ag-commodities and import miscellaneous bulk goods.
- Briess Industries Inc., Manitowoc – $1,000,000 to dredge the bed of the Manitowoc River along frontage used by Briess to broaden maritime transportation options for agricultural commodities.
- U.S. Venture Inc., Green Bay – $200,000 to dredge the bed of the Fox River to allow the continued import of petroleum products to Northeast Wisconsin.
- FJ Robers, La Crosse – $1,170,000 to repair and construct a new dock wall to allow the continued operation of a bulk commodity transload facility. This section of wall is dedicated to the transfer of corn and soybeans and is critical to sustaining Wisconsin as an important origin for the export market.
- Holcim US Green Bay Terminal, Green Bay – $1,200,000 to dredge the bed of the Fox River and construct a new docking facility to receive cement used in construction across the region.
“This is good news for Green Bay and our entire region,” said Dean Haen, Port of Green Bay Director. “These grant funds will allow the Port of Green Bay and our terminal operators to continue working to maintain and improve waterborne transportation that supports and grows our regional and state economy.”
Created in 1979, Wisconsin’s Harbor Assistance Program helps harbor communities maintain and improve waterborne commerce. Applications are reviewed by the Harbor Advisory Council, which includes members from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, University of Wisconsin (UW) Sea Grant, Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and alumni from the Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute.
Applications are accepted from public or private harbor facilities for projects that benefit facilities used for cargo transfer, shipbuilding, commercial fishing, vessel cruises, or ferry service. All projects must have a transportation efficiency benefit-cost ratio greater than one over a 25-year project life and be identified in a current three-year harbor development plan. Selection criteria include economic impact, urgency, and project type. Those interested in the next round of Harbor Assistance Project grants should note that the deadline for the next cycle is August 1, 2023.
– Marine Link (February 3, 2023)
A tug and dredge at work in a Wisconsin harbor. Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin image, n.d.
