The St. Lawrence Seaway will open for its 53rd navigation season on Tuesday. The inland waterway is to build on a strong 2010 navigation season following some tough economic times.

PHOTO CREDIT - boatnerd.com

Cornwall - Mar. 20, 2011 - The start of the spring season also means the start of a new shipping season on the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Local residents could begin to see ships passing along the St. Lawrence River this week as the waterway will open for its 53rd navigation season on Tuesday.

Dignitaries and industry officials will gather at the St. Lambert lock for an official ceremony to mark the opening of the 2011 season.

Ian White, president of the Canadian Wheat Board, will serve as a keynote speaker at the ceremoney, while Stephen Wilkes, director of governmental and regulatory affairs for Tata Steel, will also address the audience.

The speakers are expected to touch on how marine transportation on the Seaway enables their firms to trade in a global economy.

Earlier this year, the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) announced a plan to extend its toll freeze through 2011 in hopes of maintaining the waterway's positive business development initiatives.

The Seaway saw a 15.46 per cent increase in tonnage during the 2010 navigation season, which symbolizes a healthy rebound in activity following a difficult season in 2009.

Headquartered in Cornwall, the SLSMC is a not-for-profit corporation responsible for the safe and efficient movement of marine traffic through the Canadian Seaway facilities, which consists of 13 of the 15 locks between Montreal and Lake Erie.

The SLSMC ensures the waterway remains a safe and well-managed system, which it shares with its American counterpart, the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.