GLIN==> Closing of the 2007 Navigation Season

["List Manager" <adminpst@great-lakes.net>]

See http://www.greatlakes-seaway.com/en/navigation/notice20071115.pdf

SEAWAY NOTICE NO. 9 - 2007

Closing of the 2007 Navigation Season

Mariners are reminded that there is always a possibility that severe 
climatic conditions may occur during the closing period. Should this happen, 
there is a chance that the dates outlined below, for the Montreal-Lake 
Ontario Section or the Welland Canal, may not be met.

Closing Dates

Montreal-Lake Ontario Section

. The Corporations have decided to waive the operational surcharges on 
December 21, 22, 23 and 24.


. Any transit of the Montreal-Lake Ontario section of the Seaway after 23:59 
hours, December 24, if permitted, will be subject to prior written 
agreement. Arrangements are to be made at our St. Lambert office.


. Irrespective of operating conditions, in the Montreal-Lake Ontario section 
of the Seaway, all vessels must be clear of this section at 23:59 hours on 
December 29th.

Welland Canal

. The Welland Canal will remain open until 23:59 hours on December 26th.


. Any transits of the Welland Canal after 23:59 hours, December 26th, if 
permitted, will be subject to prior written agreement. Arrangements are to 
be made at our St. Catharines office.


. Vessels will be allowed to transit the Welland Canal up to 23:59 hours on 
December 30th, weather and operating conditions permitting.

Sault Ste. Marie Locks and Canal (United States)

The official closing date for the Sault Ste. Marie Locks (U.S.A.) is 2400 
hours January 15, 2008.

Ports East of Montreal

Vessel owners and operators are advised that there are a number of ports 
east of the Seaway (St. Lambert Lock) on the St. Lawrence River that remain 
open to navigation during the winter months.

Note that the Seaway Practices and Procedure (Seaway Handbook), Part X, 
Section 96 and 97 outline the Navigation Closing Procedures.

Detailed Closing Procedures

For the 2007 navigation season, the Seaway entities have agreed to apply the 
closing procedures outlined below. In these procedures, the following 
definitions are used:

a) The clearance date, as defined in Seaway Practices and Procedures, will 
be December 20th, 2007 at 23:59 hours;


b) The closing period: the period beginning December 1 and continuing until 
the last ship has completed its transit.

During the closing period, the following procedures will be in effect:

1. Reporting



a. Commencing at 0001 hours, December 1 and for the duration of the closing 
period, each upbound ship entering the Seaway at CIP 2 or departing upbound 
from a port, dock, wharf or anchorage in the Montreal/Lake Ontario Section 
must declare the furthermost destination of its voyage.



b. Commencing at 0001 hours, December 17 and for the duration of the closing 
period, each downbound ship entering traffic control Sector 4 at mid-Lake 
Ontario must declare the furthermost St. Lawrence River destination of its 
voyage, along with all intermediate destinations.

Regarding a) and b) above, each ship must advise the nearest traffic control 
centre of any changes in these destinations.

2. Upbound Ships With Destinations Above Port Colborne



a. A ship which enters the Seaway System upbound at CIP 2 after 2400 hours 
on December 9 and transits above Port Colborne shall be designated a 
'wintering ship'.

b. A 'wintering ship' wishing to return downbound through the Montreal/Lake 
Ontario Section will be granted downbound transit privileges only if, in the 
opinion of the Manager and the Corporation, such transit can be accomplished 
safely and without interfering with the orderly and timely transit of any 
ship not designated as a 'wintering ship' or without otherwise disrupting 
the system.

c. A 'wintering ship' wishing to return downbound through the Montreal/Lake 
Ontario Section must give notification of such intent to the Manager or 
Corporation at least 48 hours prior to arriving at CIP 16 (Port Colborne).

d. If a 'wintering ship' is granted downbound transit privileges through the 
Montreal/Lake Ontario Section, it will be subject to the following:

i. A 'wintering ship' will yield, whenever required to do so by the Manager 
or the Corporation, its downbound order of turn at Port Colborne (CIP 16) 
and in the area from Cape Vincent to Prescott anchorage in favour of ships 
which are not designated as 'wintering ship'.



ii. The application of sub-paragraph (i) above shall not excuse a 'wintering 
ship' from liability for the post-clearance-date operational surcharges as 
specified in the St. Lawrence Seaway Tariff of Tolls.

e. A 'wintering ship' will be required to accept and acknowledge that a 
downbound transit is not assured, and that the Manager and the Corporation 
make no representation whatsoever as to their ability to successfully 
transit the ship downbound through the Montreal/Lake Ontario Section.

3. Acceptance For Transit Through The Montreal/Lake Ontario Section Without 
Special Agreements



a. Upbound ships not otherwise restricted will be accepted for transit 
through the Montreal/Lake Ontario Section at Cap St. Michel up to 23:59 
hours, December 24th.



b. Downbound ships not otherwise restricted will be accepted for transit 
through the Montreal/Lake Ontario Section at calling-in point Cape Vincent 
up to 23:59 hours, December 24th.



c. Ships, which have complied with these clearance dates call-in procedures, 
will be cleared through the system, operating conditions permitting. 
'Operating conditions' means all conditions that affect or may affect the 
operation and maintenance of the Montreal/Lake Ontario Section of the Seaway 
as determined by the Seaway entities.



4. Acceptance For Transit Through The Montreal-Lake Ontario Section Under 
Special Agreements

Transits under special agreement will be allowed only if, in the judgment of 
both Seaway entities, operating conditions permit. This applies to:

a. Any and all ships which report at the designated call-in points at Cap 
St. Michel and Cape Vincent after 23:59 hours, December 24th, and,

b. Any and all ships that are at a port, dock or wharf in the Cap St. Michel 
to Cape Vincent section of the Seaway reporting for transit after 23:59 
hours, December 24th.

5. Transit Restrictions (Draft and Power to Length Ratio)

Unique ice conditions are encountered in the St. Lambert-Iroquois segment. 
To reduce the problem of lengthy delays caused by ships operating in ice, 
the following restrictions will apply during the closing period.

a. After 0001 hours on December 7, ships in the following categories will 
not be accepted for transit between St. Lambert and Iroquois Locks:

Upbound

i. Ships with a power to length ratio of less than 20:1 (kW/metre);


ii. Ships with a forward draft of less than 40 dm.

Downbound

i. Ships with a power to length ratio of less than 15:1 (kW/metre);


ii. Ships with a forward draft of less than 20 dm.



b. After 0001 hours on December 12, ships in the following categories will 
not be accepted for transit between St. Lambert and Iroquois Locks:

Upbound

i. Ships with a power to length ratio of less than 24:1 (kW/metre);


ii. Ships with a forward draft of less than 50 dm.

Downbound

i. Ships with a power to length ratio of less than 15:1 (kW/metre);


ii. Ships with a forward draft of less than 25 dm.



c. In all cases, the draft is to be sufficient to have the propeller fully 
submerged.



d. The draft limitations referred to in a) and b) do not apply to tugs.



e. Subject to approval, ship operators may utilise a tug of a minimum of 
3000 HP to augment the power of a ship not meeting the requirements as 
specified above. In calculating the ship's power to length ratio, 50% of the 
tug's horsepower can be added to the ship's power.



f. For determining the power to length ratio, the information contained in 
the Lloyd's Register will be used.



g. Ship operators should note that compliance with the above restrictions 
does not assure transit and that the Seaway entities may increase or 
decrease the restrictions as ice or other conditions dictates. These changes 
will be announced as early as practical, but in no case later than 24 hours 
before they go into effect.

November 15, 2007

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