Jan 12, 2018
Save the St Lawrence River from Five Freighters
On December 28 2017 the Pacific Huron Bulk Carrier, a623-foot vessel Loaded with soybean, ran aground along the south shore of the St. Lawrence River near Wellesley Island, 1,000 feet outside the channel. On January 1 2018 the Federal Biscay, a 650 foot bulk carrier became stuck in Snell Lock near Massena / Cornwall, the last lock on the St. Lawrence River. Even though the official shipping season for the St. Lawrence Seaway officially ended on December 31, 2017, these two ships, plus three others, had yet to complete their journeys down the St. Lawrence.
Locals, water activists, fishers and indigenous are concerned over the prospects of having five large ships frozen in place for the winter and the potential ecological disaster their present’s poses. It wasn’t until January 9 2018 that all 5 commercial vessels cleared the last lock, and with the assistance of the Canadian ice breaker Martha L Black, and the support of five tugs, made their way down to Montreal and beyond.
Throug…