This is the last Seaway radio message for the 2001 opening period. The Montreal-Lake Ontario section is generally open water except for scattered areas of broken ice in parts of the South Shore canal and in the Beauharnois canal above Beauharnois lock. At that time, 24-hour navigation will resume. Mariners are warned to exercise extreme caution in the use of winter markers and lighted aids as their position may have been affected by moving shore ice.
Further information is available from the appropriate traffic control centres.
Icebreaker assistance is available in the Beauharnois Canal and on Lake St. Francis. It is extremely important that ships transiting through ice covered areas and around the ice booms in the Beauharnois canal proceed at the slowest safe speed in order not to disturb the ice fields. Keep to the north of the channel, as there is ongoing work in this area. The Galop ice boom has been removed from the channel. This draft will remain in effect as per the conditions outlined in Seaway Notice no.