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                  -                                          Press Release - St. Lawrence Seaway Begins 66th Navigation Season                   

# Press Release - St. Lawrence Seaway Begins 66th Navigation Season

U.S. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway

Development Corporation (GLS) 01-24

Contact: Jennifer.Wilk@dot.gov

Tel.: (202) 590-8115

**St. Lawrence Seaway Begins 66th Navigation Season**

WASHINGTON – Today marked the opening of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System’s 66th navigation season. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) joined its partner, the Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC), at the opening ceremony of the binational waterway, which took place in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.  

“The Seaway System, and the people operating it, have kept goods moving efficiently and reliably to and from America’s heartland when we needed them most,” said **U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg**. “We’re proud to open this year’s navigation season for the Seaway System, and, along with our Canadian partners, support this critical part of our economy and global supply chain.”

Speaking at the ceremony, USDOT’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy, Allison Dane Camden, GLS Administrator Adam Tindall-Schlicht, Parliamentary Secretary to the Canadian Minister of Transport, M.P. Vance Badawey, and SLSMC President/CEO, Terence Bowles, welcomed the transit of the first commercial vessel of the season. 

“As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Wiley-Dondero Act this year, the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System’s performance continues to highlight its resiliency and importance as a global maritime supply chain,” said **Administrator Adam Tindall-Schlicht**. “An exceptional reliability record and significant investment in infrastructure and technology are enhancing efficiencies and have kept the Seaway System safe, sustainably minded, and competitive. We look forward to building on last season’s accomplishments.”

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System provides maritime commerce with reliable, efficient cargo movement supporting high-quality jobs in the U.S. and Canada. Through collaborative decarbonization initiatives, the Seaway System plays a critical role in addressing climate goals across North America. The movement of various cargoes on the Seaway System totals more than 135.7 million metric tons and supports more than 241,286 jobs and $36 billion in economic activity in the U.S. and Canada annually.

A ship transiting the Seaway System’s 15 locks from Montreal to Lake Erie crosses the international border 27 times.  Therefore, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Transport Canada work closely together to ensure that this transit experience is as safe and seamless as possible.  

Algoma Central Corporation’s *MV Algoma Sault*, a Seawaymax self-unloading bulk carrier built in 2018, was the first ship to transit through the lock at St. Catharines.

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*(L-R): Terence Bowles, President and CEO, The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation; Stéphane Gilbert, Chief Engineer, Algoma Central Corporation; Robert Loveless, Captain, Algoma Central Corporation; and Adam Tindall-Schlicht, Administrator, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation at the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway’s 2024 navigation season. March 22, 2024. St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Photo credit: The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC)***

 

*Algoma Central Corporation’s 729’ MV Algoma Sault, a Seawaymax self-unloading bulk carrier built in 2018, was the first ship to transit through the lock in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada on Friday, March 22, 2024, marking the start of the 66th navigation season of the St. Lawrence Seaway.  Photo Credit: The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC)*