The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System’s 66th navigation season is now underway. 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, on Friday, March 22, 2024. “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.”

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System provides maritime commerce with reliable, efficient cargo movement supporting high-quality jobs in the United States 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 United States 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 M/V Algoma Sault, a Seawaymax self-unloading bulk carrier built in 2018, was the first ship to transit through the lock at St. Catharines.