Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System Other service
Seaway Lock Transit (Commercial Shipping)
Binational operation of the St. Lawrence Seaway's 15 locks and channels, allowing commercial ships to transit between Montreal and Lake Erie.
Description
The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway (Hwy H2O) is a 3,700-kilometre (2,300-mile) marine highway formed by the St. Lawrence River, the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes. Its 15 locks (13 Canadian and 2 American) allow ships to transit between Montreal and Lake Erie, a difference in elevation of 168 metres. The two U.S. locks, Eisenhower and Snell on the Wiley-Dondero Canal, are operated by GLS at Massena, N.Y.
Key features
- Vessel maximum: 225.5 m (740 ft.) length, 23.77 m (78 ft.) beam, 8.08 m (26 ft., 6 in.) draft, 35.5 m (116.5 ft.) height above water
- Channels maintained at 8.2 m (27 ft.) minimum depth
- Each lock is 233.5 m (766 ft.) long, 24.4 m (80 ft.) wide and 9.1 m (30 ft.) deep over the sill
- A lock fills with approximately 91 million litres of water in 7 to 10 minutes; a lock transit takes about 45 minutes
- Five canals: South Shore, Beauharnois, Wiley-Dondero, Iroquois and Welland
Applications
Transit of ocean freighters, lakers and passenger ships between the Atlantic and Great Lakes ports. All vessels exceeding 300 gross registered tonnes must conform to the Seaway Handbook regulations.
Specifications
| Vessel maximum length | 225.5 m (740 ft.) |
|---|---|
| Vessel maximum beam | 23.77 m (78 ft.) |
| Vessel maximum draft | 8.08 m (26 ft., 6 in.) |
| Maximum height above water | 35.5 m (116.5 ft.) |
| Minimum channel depth | 8.2 m (27 ft.) |
| Number of locks | 15 (13 Canadian, 2 U.S.) |
| Lock dimensions | 233.5 m long, 24.4 m wide, 9.1 m deep over the sill |
| Lift (Montreal to Lake Erie) | 168 m |
| Lock transit time | About 45 minutes |
More from Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System
- Vessel Drawing Review
- Bridge Status and Passage+ App
- Ship Inspection
- Schedule of Tolls
- Wharfage and Storage Charges
- Incentive Programs
- Seaway eBusiness Applications
- Automatic Identification System (AIS) Traffic Management
- Draft Information System (DIS)
- Voyage Information System (VIS)
- Seaway Handbook
- Pleasure Craft Reservations
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