Navigation season opening dates set

The opening day schedule and draft restrictions have been set for 2012 for the Great Lakes–St Lawrence Seaway System.

Both Montreal/Lake Ontario and the Welland Canal will open on March 22 at 0800 hours (DST).

The United States Soo Locks will open March 25.

The allowable draft in the Montreal/Lake Ontario section will be 8m (26ft-3in) until the South Shore Canal is ice-free or until April 15, whichever occurs first. Then, if water levels are favorable, the draft will increase to 8.08m (26ft-6in). There will be zero tolerance for drafts exceeding 8.08m.

In the Welland Canal, the maximum allowable draft of 8.08m will be in effect beginning at the start of the season, and there will be zero tolerance for vessels that exceed that figure.