Seaway level draw-down to help tugboat recovery

A tugboat, center, capsized on the St. Lawrence River near the north channel bridge on June 22, 2015. The crew managed to escape the boat before it overturned. (Photo/Angie Primeau)

CORNWALL – The St. Lawrence Seaway is warning boaters downstream from Cornwall that water levels will be lowered.

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation said Tuesday the outflows from the Moses-Saunders Power Dam will be reduced starting Friday.

It will happen during the daytime to help with the recovery operations for the Lac Manitoba, which sank June 22.

People boating on Lake St. Francis (near Bainsville) and Lake St. Louis (near Montreal) are being advised, though the draw-down is not expected to prompt a low-level alert.

The corporation said the salvaging operation should last up to 14 days.

The Lac Manitoba and LCM 131 sank while trying to position a barge for bridge decommissioning work.

It’s thought the swift current in the St. Lawrence River caused the tugboats to sink and has also hampered efforts in their recovery.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply