St. Lawrence Seaway sees nearly 38 million tons pass through waterway in 2023
CORNWALL, ON – The St. Lawrence Seaway had a busy year during its longest
shipping season ever. On Wednesday, January 31, the Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway
Management Corporation and U.S. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development
Corporation jointly announced that nearly 38 million tons of cargo transited the
binational system in 2023, which was an overall increase of more than 3.4 percent.
Here are some of the highlights from the shipping season:
- Grain: Despite challenges posed by climate change, producers successfully mitigated
global issues, resulting in an overall increase of nearly 5% compared to 2022 figures,
reaching 10.4 million tons. Notably, Canadian grain experienced a significant year-
overyear growth of more than 11%. - Dry Bulk: Agricultural and construction supply chain materials, including potash,
gypsum, cement and stone, exceeded 12 million tonnes, representing 5% growth
compared to 2022. - Liquid bulk: 3.6 million tonnes of liquid bulk transited the Seaway in 2023, representing
a 3.4% increase from the previous year. Petroleum products were the primary
contributors with 2.6 million tonnes, followed by liquid chemicals, which increased 11%. - Cargo fluidity: The Seaway system’s efficiency contributed to economic development
on both sides of the border, with fewer transits in ballast and an additional 1.2 million
tons of cargo.
Marking the longest scheduled shipping season in history, the Montreal-Lake Ontario
section of the Seaway, including the U.S. locks (not the ones in Sault Ste. Marie) closed
on Friday, January 5, with the Welland Canal closing on Sunday, January 7. Both the
SLSMC and GLS are now engaged in annual multi-million-dollar winter maintenance
and infrastructure renewal programs, which are strategic to maintaining the binational
system’s record of reliability and availability.
“Again in 2023, the St. Lawrence Seaway demonstrated its resilience and reliability, as
well as emphasizing its role as an essential component of the Green Shipping Corridor,”
said Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the SLSMC.” Compared to the previous
year, the season ended with goods shipped through the waterway increasing by 3.4%,
which helped drive the North American economy.
According to a press release, both Canadian and U.S. Seaway Corporations will focus
on further developing the Green Shipping Corridor to leverage the environmental and
economic benefits of marine shipping to regional and global communities in 2024.
HELP WANTED: S.S. Badger
Once again we are searching for some Navigational Deck/Navigational Engine crew for
our 2024 sailing season. Applications must be filled out on-line by visiting our website
at: www.ssbadger.com and click Join The Team.
Able-Seaman (AB): Performs navigational watch in and around the pilot house, assists
Mate on duty with supervising the deck crew, assists in loading and off-loading
passengers and cargo, proper use and care of deck equipment, supplies and material,
work alongside deck crew, undertaking tasks as necessary, learn fire and lifeboat
stations along with signals and procedures associated with an emergency to properly
carry out a fire and lifeboat drill to US Coast Guard standards, be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.
Room and board provided, employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice a day, 7 days per
week and eligible for medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 90-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR THE AB POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED
AND POSSES THE CREDENTIALS NEEDED FOR THIS POSITON.
QMED: Works under the direction of the watch Engineer, employee will stand a 4-hour
watch, twice a day, 7 days per week, be prepared to live and work aboard the vessel
the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct. (room and board provided).
APPLICANTS FOR THE QMED POSITIONS MUST BE QUALIFIED AND POSSES
THE FIREMAN/OILER/WATERTENDER ENDORSEMENTS ON THEIR MMC. QMED –
Oiler: Assists with operating and maintaining all vessel equipment and systems, assists
with monitoring plant operation, assists with record-keeping, assigned a cleaning
station. QMED – Fireman: Manages the fires in the operating boilers, ensures an
adequate fuel supply to the boilers, assists the Coal passer on duty with ash removal
conveyors, assigned a cleaning station. Qualifications/Certifications required: Valid
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), valid Merchant Mariners
Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, endorsement as QMED
Fireman/Oiler/Watertender on MMC, current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate,
legally eligible to be employed in the United States (Proof of identity and eligibility will be
required upon employment.
LICENSED ENGINE OFFICER: Supervise a watch with the assistance and direction
from the Chief Engineer. Responsible for the safety of the personnel assigned to the
watch and their task performance in the operation of the vessel. Assists with the
operation and maintenance of all vessel operating equipment and systems. Maintains
the engine room records as required by various agencies. Conducts periodic safety
inspections of departmental tools and safety equipment as directed. Required to make
descriptive entries of all work performed in the Engineer log. Be prepared to live and
work aboard the vessel the duration of the sailing season, from mid-May to mid-Oct.
(room and board provided). Employee will stand a 4-hour watch, twice daily, 7 days per
week. Eligible for AMO medical, dental, vision and 401K after completing 60-day
probationary period. APPLICANTS FOR LICENSED ENGINEER POSITIONS MUST
BE QUALIFIED AND POSSESS LICENSED ENGINEER OF STEAM VESSELS OF
UNLIMITED ENDORSEMENT OF 4000 HP OR HIGHER. Qualifications/Certifications
Required: Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), Valid Merchant
Mariners Credential issued by the U.S. Coast Guard with proper endorsements,
including at least Third Assistant Engineer of steam vessels of unlimited horsepower,
current US Coast Guard Medical Certificate and be legally eligible to be employed in the
United States (proof of identity will be required upon employment).
Interlake Steamship Co.
U.S.-Flag Great Lakes shipping up 6.5 percent in 2023
Cleveland, OH – U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 81.4 million tons of cargo in 2023, an increase of 6.5 percent compared to 2022. The 2023 float was 1.2 percent above the fleet’s 5-year average.
Iron ore cargos totaled 42.4 million tons, an increase of 13.4 percent compared to a year earlier. Coal cargos were down 9.7 percent to 8.4 million tons. Limestone shipments increased by 3.9 percent to 24.6 million tons, while cement shipments were a near match to 2022 at 3.7 million tons. Salt and grain cargos were down by 5.8 percent and 11.8 percent, respectively. Sand shipments increased by 12.4 percent.
