67th Navigation Season

The 2025 season kicked off on March 25 in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Representatives from the SLSMC and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) welcomed the transit of the first commercial vessel of the navigation season, the articulated tug and barge Everlast and Norman McLeod, operated by McAsphalt Marine Transportation Limited.

GLS Deputy Administrator Anthony Fisher spoke about resiliency and the importance of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System as a vital maritime supply chain. “An exceptional reliability record, coupled with significant investments in infrastructure and technology, are enhancing efficiencies and keeping the Seaway System safe and competitive,” he said. 

The start of the 2025 season through the end of April saw a 3.7% increase in tonnage compared to the same time last year. Strong movements of grain, dry and liquid bulk cargoes made up for the slower start in iron ore and coal movements. April shipments of iron ore were down 24% compared to the same time in 2024. According to the Lake Carriers’ Association, April limestone shipments were down 21.6% compared to one year ago.  

Jim Athanasiou, president and CEO of the SLSMC, said the steady performance is encouraging given the current economic climate. “With tariffs and other pressures still unfolding, it’s too early to know the full extent of what lies ahead,” he added. 

Resiliency Matters

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway saw approximately 37 million metric tons of cargo move through the system during the 2024 navigation season. The season, which ran from March 22, 2024, to January 10, 2025, lasted 295 days—making it the longest planned navigation period in the waterway’s history. The system saw strong cargo movement across key sectors, with grain shipments rising 12% year-over-year, potash increasing 14%, liquid bulk up 10% and general cargo also rising 14%. 

In December, the SLSMC announced it would invest more than $350 million in infrastructure upgrades over the next three years to strengthen supply chain links and improve reliability. “We are committed to supporting growth in North American industries. The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System can easily accommodate additional traffic within our existing capacity,” said Athanasiou.

Feature image: The Great Lakes Trader in Lorain, Ohio