Radio Messages
Seaway Radio Message #3 - 2008 Opening
Both the Montreal-Lake Ontario section and the Welland Canal are now open to navigation.
Details on the maximum permissible drafts for both the Montreal-Lake Ontario Section and the Welland Canal are available in Seaway Notice no.1 of 2008.
MONTREAL-LAKE ONTARIO SECTION
The South Shore, Beauharnois and Wiley-Dondero canals are generally covered with broken ice. Lake St. Francis is covered with thick ice with a broken track in the navigation channel. Icebreaker assistance is available.
Navigation may be restricted until the commissioning of lighted aids has been completed. Mariners are warned to exercise extreme caution in the use of winter markers as the position of the markers may have been affected by ice. Further information concerning this is available from the appropriate traffic control centre.
Due to the presence of ice, one way navigation is in effect in the South Shore, Beauharnois and the Wiley-Dondero canals. Further information concerning this is available from the appropriate traffic control centre.
It is extremely important, for vessels transiting through all ice covered areas and the ice booms in the Beauharnois Canal, to proceed at the slowest safe speed in order not to disturb the ice fields.
The removal of the Galop ice boom (Boom G) is complete. The removal of the Prescott-Ogdensburg ice boom (Boom A) is in progress and has an opening of 150 metres with no markers on the extremities.
WELLAND CANAL
The Welland Canal is open water with broken ice present in Port Colborne Harbour and above lock 7. Mariners are cautioned that, at present, thick to thin ice conditions exist in the southern half of Lake Erie.
March 22, 2008