CORNWALL – A combination to ship traffic in the St. Lawrence Seaway and a ship that ran aground has delayed the closing of the seaway for several days.
The seaway was supposed to close on Dec. 31, 2017.
But the 189-meter (623-foot) cargo ship, Pacific Huron, ran aground last week between Fishers Landing and Thousand Island Park on Wellesley Island. It was freed by two Canadian tugboats over the weekend.
The ship has to go through an underwater inspection before it will be cleared to travel to Montreal.
As of Tuesday night (Jan. 2), the ship was still waiting in Clayton, N.Y., according to Michael Folsom of The Ship Watcher.
— Michael Folsom (@theshipwatcher) January 2, 2018
Federal Biscay will remain stuck for another night after two tugs were used for more than 7 hours today to free her from Snell Lock. Evans McKeil will join the effort tomorrow as will boilers to heat the water. Quite the situation in Massena.
— Michael Folsom (@theshipwatcher) January 2, 2018
Ocean A Simard is working to clear a path for Beatrix to enter Eisenhower Lock but ice has slowed the ship to a stop well before the Lock gate.
— Michael Folsom (@theshipwatcher) January 2, 2018
At least five ships have experienced various delays getting to the port in Montreal due to rapidly developing ice on the seaway with the frigid temperatures.
Data from the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation shows water temperatures dived around Dec. 13 to near zero Celcius and then sub-zero on Christmas Eve.