JOINT PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES RESPECTING THE

TRANSIT OF SHIPS ON THE ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY -

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Short Title .............................................................................................................. 4

Interpretation......................................................................................................... 4

PART I - CONDITION OF SHIPS ........................................................................... 6

Maximum Ship Dimensions ......................................................................... 6
Minimum Length and Weight ....................................................................... 6
Required Equipment .................................................................................... 6
Markings...................................................................................................... 6
Fenders ....................................................................................................... 7
Landing Booms ........................................................................................... 7
Radio Telephone and Navigation Equipment ............................................... 8
Mooring Lines .............................................................................................. 9
Fairleads ................................................................................................... 10
Minimum Requirements - Mooring Lines and Fairleads ............................. 10
Hand Lines ................................................................................................ 12
Anchors, Anchor Marking Buoys ............................................................... 12
Stern Anchors ........................................................................................... 13
Propeller Direction Alarms ......................................................................... 13
Pitch Indicators and Alarms ....................................................................... 13
Steering Lights .......................................................................................... 13
Disposal and Discharge Systems .............................................................. 14
Automatic Identification System ................................................................. 14
Requirements for U.S. Waters of the St. Lawrence Seaway ...................... 15

PART II - PRECLEARANCE AND SECURITY FOR FEES .................................. 15

Preclearance of Ships ............................................................................... 15
Liability Insurance...................................................................................... 16
Application for Preclearance ...................................................................... 16
Approval of Preclearance .......................................................................... 17
Security for fees ........................................................................................ 17

PART III - SEAWAY NAVIGATION ...................................................................... 18

Compliance with Instructions ..................................................................... 18
Speed Limits ............................................................................................. 18
Maximum Draught ..................................................................................... 18
Ballast Water and Trim .............................................................................. 20
Meeting and Passing ................................................................................. 22
Cargo Booms - Deck Cargo....................................................................... 22
Special Instructions ................................................................................... 22
Ships in Tow.............................................................................................. 23
Navigation Underway ................................................................................ 23
Order of Passing Through ......................................................................... 23
Mooring at Tie-Up Walls ............................................................................ 23
Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 1 of 60
 Limit of Approach to a Lock ....................................................................... 24
Preparing Mooring Lines for Passing Through ........................................... 24
Raising Fenders ........................................................................................ 24
Entering, Exiting or Position in Lock .......................................................... 24
Tandem Lockage....................................................................................... 24
Passing Hand Lines .................................................................................. 25
Mooring Table ........................................................................................... 26
Mooring in Locks ....................................................................................... 26
Emergency Procedure ............................................................................... 27
Attending Lines.......................................................................................... 27
Leaving a Lock .......................................................................................... 27
Turning Basins .......................................................................................... 28
Dropping Anchor or Tying to Canal Bank................................................... 28
Anchorage Areas....................................................................................... 29
Signalling Approach to a Bridge ................................................................ 29
Limit of Approach to a Bridge .................................................................... 29
Obstructing Navigation .............................................................................. 29
Interference with Navigation Aids .............................................................. 29
Searchlights .............................................................................................. 30
Damaging or Defacing Seaway Property ................................................... 30
Disembarking or Boarding ......................................................................... 30
Pleasure Craft Scheduling ......................................................................... 30
Pollution .................................................................................................... 30

PART IV - RADIO COMMUNICATIONS ............................................................... 31

Listening Watch and Notice of Arrival ........................................................ 31
Assigned Frequencies ............................................................................... 31
Seaway Stations........................................................................................ 32
Radio Procedures...................................................................................... 32
Calling In ................................................................................................... 33
Communication - Ports, Docks and Anchorages........................................ 34

PART V - DANGEROUS CARGO ........................................................................ 34

Applicable Laws ........................................................................................ 34
Carrying Explosives ................................................................................... 35
Explosives Permission Letter..................................................................... 35
Hazardous Cargo Ships ............................................................................ 36
Fendering - Explosive and Hazardous Cargo Ships .................................. 37
Signals - Explosive and Hazardous Cargo Ships ....................................... 37
Reporting - Explosive and Hazardous Cargo Ships ................................... 37
Cleaning Tanks - Hazardous Cargo Ships ................................................. 38
Hot Work Permission ................................................................................. 39
Special Requirements for Tankers Performing Hot Work ........................... 39

PART VI - FEES ASSESSMENT AND PAYMENT ............................................... 39

Transit Declaration .................................................................................... 39
Payment of Fees ....................................................................................... 40
In-Transit Cargo ........................................................................................ 41

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 2 of 60

PART VII - INFORMATION AND REPORTS ........................................................ 41
Required Information ................................................................................. 41
Advance Notice of Arrival, Ships Requiring Inspection .............................. 41
Reporting Dangerous Cargo ...................................................................... 43
Reporting an Accident or Dangerous Occurrence...................................... 43
Reporting Mast Height ............................................................................... 43
Reporting Position at Anchor, Wharf, etc. .................................................. 43
Reporting of Impairment or Other Hazard by Ships Transiting within the
Seaway .......................................................................................... 44
Reporting of Impairment or Other Hazard by Ships Intending to Transit the
Seaway .......................................................................................... 44

PART VIII - DETENTION AND SALE IN U.S. WATERS ...................................... 44

Security for Damages or Injury .................................................................. 44
Detention for Fee Arrears or Violations ...................................................... 45
Power of Sale for Fee Arrears ................................................................... 45

PART IX - GENERAL ........................................................................................... 46

Transit Refused ......................................................................................... 46
Boarding for Inspection.............................................................................. 46
Removal of Obstructions ........................................................................... 47
Wintering and Laying-Up ........................................................................... 47
Access to Seaway Property ....................................................................... 47
Keeping Copies of Documents .................................................................. 47
Compliance with Practices and Procedures............................................... 48

PART X - NAVIGATION CLOSING PROCEDURES ............................................ 48

Interpretation ............................................................................................. 48
Closing Procedures and Ice Navigation ..................................................... 48

SCHEDULE I - SHIPS TRANSITING U.S. WATERS ............................................ 50

WARNING ................................................................................................. 51

SCHEDULE II TABLE OF SPEEDS 1 .................................................................. 52

SCHEDULE III CALLING IN TABLE ................................................................... 53

APPENDIX I SHIP DIMENSIONS ........................................................................ 60

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 3 of 60

 JOINT PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES RESPECTING THE

TRANSIT OF SHIPS ON THE ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY

(U.S. Rules 401.1 to 401.97)

Short Title

1. These Practices and Procedures may be cited as the Seaway Practices and
Procedures.

Interpretation

2. In these Practices and Procedures,

«E-Business» means web applications on The St. Lawrence Seaway Management

Corporation web site which provides direct electronic transmission of data to complete
and submit application forms and transit data;

«Act» in Canada means the Canada Marine Act; in the United States means the Saint
Lawrence Seaway Act; (Loi)

«Corporation» means the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development

Corporation; (Corporation)

«fees» is defined in the Canada Marine Act and includes "Toll(s)" or "tolls and charges"
as used in the United States;

«flashpoint» means the lowest temperature of a flammable liquid at which its vapour
forms an ignitable mixture with air as determined by the closed-cup method; (point
d’éclair)

«Hands Free Mooring» (HFM) means a system that uses vacuum pads that are
mounted on vertical rails inside the lock chamber wall to secure a ship during the
lockage process;

«Manager» means The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation;

(gestionnaire)

«navigation season» means the annual period designated by the Manager and the
Corporation, that is appropriate to weather and ice conditions or ship traffic demands,
during which the Seaway is open for navigation; (saison de navigation)

«officer» means a person employed by the Manager or the Corporation to direct some
phase of operation or use of the Seaway; (agent)

«passing through» means in transit through a lock or through the waters enclosed by
the approach walls at either end of a lock chamber; (éclusage)

«pleasure craft» means a ship, however propelled, that is used exclusively for pleasure
and that does not carry passengers who have paid a fare for passage; (embarcation de
plaisance)

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 4 of 60

 «preclearance» means the authorization given by the Manager or the Corporation or a
ship to transit; (congé préalable)

«representative» means the owner or charterer of a ship or an agent of either of them

and includes any person who, in an application for preclearance of a ship, accepts
responsibility for payment of the fees to be assessed against the ship in respect of
transit and wharfage; (représentant)

«Schedule of Tolls» means the same as "Tariff of Tolls" in the United States; (tarif des
droits)

«Seaway» means the deep waterway between the Port of Montreal and Lake Erie and
includes all locks, canals and connecting and contiguous waters that are part of the
deep waterway, and all other canals and works, wherever located, the management,
administration and control of which have been entrusted to the Manager or the
Corporation; (voie maritime)

«Seaway station» means a radio station operated by the Manager or the Corporation;
(station de la voie maritime) (Refer to section 62 – Seaway Stations)

«Ship» means every description of ship, boat or craft designed, used or capable of
being used solely or partly for marine navigation, whether self-propelled or not and
without regard to the method of propulsion, and includes a sea-plane and a raft of logs
or lumber; (navire)

«ship traffic controller» means the officer who controls ships traffic from a Seaway
station; (contrôleur du trafic maritime)

«Tariff of Tolls» in the United States means the same as Schedule of Tolls in Canada;
(tarif des droits)

«tanker» means any ship specifically constructed for carrying bulk cargoes of liquid
petroleum products, liquid chemicals, liquid edible oils and liquefied gases in tanks
which form both an integral part and the total cargo carrying portion of that ship; (navire-
citerne)

«towed» means pushed or pulled through the water; (remorqué)

«transit» means to use the Seaway, or a part of it, either upbound or downbound;
(transiter)

«vessel» is used in U.S. Seaway Regulations only and means any type of craft used
as a means of transportation on water;

«vessel traffic controller» is used in U.S. Seaway Regulations and has the same
meaning as Ship traffic controller).

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 5 of 60

 PART I - CONDITION OF SHIPS

Maximum Ship Dimensions

3. (1) Subject to subsection (5), no ship of more than 222.5 m in overall

length or 23.2 m in extreme breadth shall transit.

(2) No ship shall transit if any part of the ship or anything on the ship extends
more than 35.5 m above water level.

(3) No ship shall transit if any part of its bridges or anything on the ship
protrudes beyond the hull.

(4) No ship's hull or superstructure when alongside a lock wall shall extend
beyond the limits of the lock wall, as illustrated in Appendix I.

(5) A ship having a beam width in excess of 23.2 m but not more than 23.8
m and having dimensions that do not exceed the limits set out in the block
diagram illustrated in Appendix I, or overall length in excess of 222.5 m
but not more than 225.5 m shall, on application to the Manager or the
Corporation, be considered for transit after review of the ship's drawings
and, if accepted, shall transit in accordance with directions issued by the
Manager and the Corporation.

(6) Ships beam greater than 23.20 m may be subject to transit restrictions
and/or delays during periods of ice cover.

Minimum Length and Weight

4. No ship of less than 6 m in overall length or 900 kg in weight shall transit through
Seaway Locks.

Required Equipment

5. No ship shall transit unless it is

(a) propelled by motor power that is adequate in the opinion of an officer; and

(b) marked and equipped in accordance with the requirements of sections 6

to 21.

Markings

6. (1) Ships of more than 20 m in overall length shall be correctly and

distinctly marked and equipped with draught markings on both sides at
the bow and stern.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 6 of 60

 (2) In addition to the markings required by subsection (1), ships of more than
110 m in overall length shall be marked on both sides with midship
draught markings.

(3) Where a ship's bulbous bow extends forward beyond her stem head, a
symbol of a bulbous bow shall be marked above the ship’s summer load
line draught mark in addition to a + symbol followed by a number
indicating the total length in metres by which the bulbous bow projects
beyond the stem.

Fenders

7. (1) Where any structural part of a ship protrudes so as to endanger

Seaway installations, the ship shall be equipped with only horizontal
permanent fenders

(a) that are made of steel, are of a thickness not exceeding 15 cm, with
well tapered ends, and are located along the hull, close to the main
deck level; and

(b) on special application, portable fenders, other than rope hawsers,

may be allowed for a single transit if the portable fenders are

(i) made of a material that will float, and

(ii) securely fastened and suspended from the ship in a horizontal

position by a steel cable or a fibre rope in such a way that they
can be raised or lowered in a manner that does not damage
Seaway installations.

(2) Tires shall not be used as fenders.

(3) On special application, ships of unusual design may be permitted to

utilize permanent fenders not greater than 30 cm in thickness.

For details refer to Ship Transit and Equipment Requirements

items 23 and 27.

Landing Booms

8. (1) Ships of more than 50 m in overall length and a freeboard of 2 m or more

may be equipped with landing booms.

For details refer to Ship Transit and Equipment Requirements,

section 20.

(2) For ships with landing booms:

(a) Ship must be equipped with an adequate landing boom on each side;
Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 7 of 60
 (b) Landing booms must be in compliance with applicable regulations;

(c) Ship’s crews shall be adequately trained in the use of landing booms
for the purpose of landing crew ashore.

(d) Ship must have onboard for inspection the following documents:

(i) A copy of the test certificates for each of the landing booms
from either a classification society or a third party, dated within
5 years;

(ii) Documents to demonstrate appropriate training;

(iii) Documented tests and maintenance records of landing boom

equipment.

(3) At the U.S. Locks, ships not equipped with or not using landing booms
may be tied up at the approach walls based on Lock personnel
availability.

(4) At the Canadian Locks, ships not equipped with or not using landing
booms may be delayed and/or put to anchor until such time that
the traffic pattern can accommodate their transit.

Radio Telephone and Navigation Equipment

9. (1) Self-propelled ships, other than pleasure craft of less than 20 m in

overall length, shall be equipped with VHF (very high frequency) radio
telephone equipment.

(a) All communications shall be on the applicable VHF frequency. The

use of personal electronic devices for communication between ships
or with traffic control should be limited to necessity.

(b) Please note that communications into the Traffic Control Centre may
be recorded for quality assurance and training purposes.

(2) The radio transmitters on a ship shall

(a) have sufficient power output to enable the ship to communicate with
Seaway stations from a distance of 48 km; and

(b) be fitted to operate from the conning position in the wheelhouse and
to communicate on channels 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 66a, 75, 76
and 77.

(3) Gyro compass error greater than 2 degrees must be serviced prior to
transiting the Seaway, and if noted during a Seaway transit, must be
Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 8 of 60
 reported to the nearest Seaway station and serviced at the first
opportunity.
For details of section 9. (2) (b) refer to section 60 through 64.

Mooring Lines

10. (1) Mooring lines shall

(a) be of a uniform thickness throughout their length;

(b) have a diameter not greater than 28mm for wire line and not greater
than 64mm for approved synthetic lines

(c) be fitted with a hand spliced eye or Flemish type mechanical

spliced eye not less than 2.4 m long for wire lines and 1.8 m long
spliced eye for approved synthetic lines;

(d) have sufficient strength to check the ship;

(e) be arranged so that they may be led to either side of the ship as
required.

(f) be certified and a test certificate for each mooring line containing
information on breaking strength, material type, elongation and
diameter shall be available onboard for inspection.

(2) Unless otherwise permitted by an officer, ships greater than 200 m shall
only use wire mooring lines with a breaking strength that complies with
the minimum specifications set out in the table to this section for securing
a ship in lock chambers.

(3) Notwithstanding the above, nylon line is not permitted.

(4) Hand held synthetic lines if permitted by the Manager or Corporation shall
meet the criteria in section (1) and shall have a minimum length of not
less than 65 metres.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 9 of 60

 TABLE

OVERALL LENGTH OF SHIPS LENGTH OF BREAKING

MOORING LINE SRENGTH
40 m or more but not more than 60 m 110 m 10 MT
more than 60 m but not more than 90 m 110 m 15 MT
more than 90 m but not more than 120 m 110 m 20 MT
more than 120 m but not more than 180 m 110 m 28 MT
more than 180 m but not more than 200 m 110 m 31 MT
more than 200 m but not more than 225.5 m 110 m 35 MT
Elongation of synthetic lines shall not exceed 20%

Fairleads
11. (1) Mooring lines shall

(a) be led at the ship's side through a type of fairlead or closed chock
acceptable to the Manager and the Corporation;

(b) pass through not more than three inboard rollers that are fixed in
place and equipped with horns to ensure that lines will not slip off
when slackened and provided with free-running sheaves or rollers;
and

(c) where the fairleads or closed chocks are mounted flush with the hull,
be permanently fendered to prevent the lines from being pinched
between the ship and a lock wall.

(d) When passing synthetic lines through a type of fairlead or closed

chock acceptable to the Manager and the Corporation all sharp
edges of the fairlead, closed chock and/or bulwark shall be rounded
to protect the line from chafing or breakage.

(2) Wire lines shall only be led through approved roller type fairleads.

Minimum Requirements - Mooring Lines and Fairleads

12. (1) Unless otherwise permitted by the officer the minimum requirements in
respect of mooring lines which shall be available for securing on either
side of the ship, winches and the location of fairleads on ships are as
follows:

(a) ships of 100 m or less in overall length shall have at least three
mooring lines – wires or synthetic hawsers, two of which shall be

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 10 of 60

 independently power operated and one if synthetic, may be hand
held;

(i) one line shall lead forward from the break of the bow and one
line shall lead astern from the quarter and be independently
power operated by winches, capstans or windlasses and lead
through closed chocks or fairleads acceptable to the Manager
and the Corporation; and

(ii) one synthetic hawser may be hand held or if wire line is used
shall be powered. The line shall lead astern from the break of
the bow through a closed chock to suitable bitts on deck for
synthetic line or led from a capstan, winch drum or windlass to
an approved fairlead for a wire line.

(b) ships of more than 100 m but not more than 150 m in overall length
shall have three mooring lines – wires or synthetic hawsers, which
shall be independently power operated by winches, capstans or
windlasses. All lines shall be led through closed chocks or fairleads
acceptable to the Manager and the Corporation.

(i) one shall lead forward and one shall lead astern from the break
of the bow and one lead astern from the quarter.

(c) ships of more than 150 m but not more than 200 m in overall length
shall have four mooring lines – wires or synthetic hawsers, which
shall be independently power operated by winches.

(i) one mooring line shall lead forward and one mooring line shall
lead astern from the break of the bow.

(ii) one mooring line shall lead forward and one mooring line shall
lead astern from the quarter.

(iii) all lines shall be led through closed chocks or fairlead

acceptable to the Manager and the Corporation.

(d) ships of more than 200 m in overall length shall have four mooring
lines – wires, independently power operated by the main drums of
adequate power operated winches as follows:

(i) one mooring line shall lead forward and one mooring line shall
lead astern from the break of the bow.

(ii) one mooring line shall lead forward and one mooring line shall
lead astern from the quarter.

(iii) all lines shall be led through a type of fairlead acceptable to

the Manager and the Corporation.
Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 11 of 60
 (e) every ship shall have a minimum of two spare mooring lines
available and ready for immediate use.

(2) Unless otherwise permitted by the officer the following table sets out the
requirements for the location of fairleads or closed chocks for ships of 100
m or more in overall length:

TABLE

OVERALL FOR MOORING LINES FOR MOORING LINES

LENGTH OF NOS. 1 AND 2 NOS. 3 AND 4
SHIPS

100 m or more but not more than 180 Shall be at a location on the ship side Shall be at a location on the ship side
m where the beam is at least 90 % of where the beam is at least 90 % of
the full beam of the ship. the full beam of the ship.

more than 180 m but not more than Between 20 m & 50 m from the stem Between 20 m & 50 m from the stern
225.5m

Hand Lines

13. Hand lines shall

(a) be made of material acceptable to the Manager and the Corporation, and

(b) be of uniform thickness and have a diameter of not less than 12 mm and
not more than 18 mm and a minimum length of 30 m.

(c) not be weighted or have knotted ends.

For details refer to Ship Transit and Equipment Requirements,

Appendix 4.

Anchors, Anchor Marking Buoys

14. (a) Every ship shall have their anchors cleared and have the anchor
marking buoys free to deploy (weak link to hold buoy line on board) with
the buoy lines firmly secured to each anchor and ready to be released
prior to entering the Seaway.

(b) Every ship shall deploy the anchor marking buoy when dropping an
anchor in Seaway waters (designated Seaway anchorages are exempt).

(c) Every ship shall be equipped with operational anchor(s) suitably rigged
for immediate release, holding and retrieval. Every ship shall be
responsible for locating and retrieving any anchor deployed by the ship
and shall do so as timely manner so as to not delay transits of ships.

For details refer to Ship Transit and Equipment Requirements,

Section 19.
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 Stern Anchors

15. Every ship of more than 125 m in overall length, the keel of which is laid after
January 1, 1975, shall be equipped with a stern anchor.

Every integrated tug and barge or articulated tug and barge unit greater than
125 m in overall length which is constructed after January 1, 2003 shall be
equipped with a stern anchor.

For details refer to Ship Transit and Equipment Requirements, section

17.

Propeller Direction Alarms

16. Every ship of 1600 gross registered tons or integrated tug and barge or
articulated tug and barge unit of combined 1,600 gross registered tons or more
shall be equipped with

(a) propeller direction and shaft r.p.m. indicators located in the wheelhouse
and the engine room; and

(b) visible and audible wrong-way propeller direction alarms, with a time
delay of not greater than 8 seconds, located in the wheelhouse and the
engine room, unless the ship is fitted with a device which renders it
impossible to operate engines against orders from the bridge telegraph.

Pitch Indicators and Alarms

17. Every ship of 1,600 gross registered tons or integrated tug and barge or
articulated tug and barge unit of combined 1,600 gross registered tons or more
equipped with a variable pitch propeller shall be equipped with

(a) a pitch indicator in the wheelhouse and the engine room; and

(b) visible and audible pitch alarms, with a time delay of not greater than 8
seconds, in the wheelhouse and engine room to indicate wrong way pitch.

Steering Lights

18. Every ship shall be equipped with

(a) a steering light located on the centreline at or near the stem of the ship
and clearly visible from the helm; or

(b) two steering lights located at equal distances either side of the centreline
at the forepart of the ship and clearly visible from the bridge along a line
parallel to the keel.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 13 of 60

 Disposal and Discharge Systems

19. (1) Every ship not equipped with containers for ordure shall be equipped with
a sewage disposal system enabling compliance with the Vessel Pollution
and Dangerous Chemicals regulations (Canada), the U.S. Clean Water
Act and the U.S .River and Harbor Act, and amendments thereto.

(2) Garbage on a ship shall be

(a) destroyed by means of an incinerator or other garbage disposal

device; or

(b) retained on board in covered, leak-proof containers, until such time

as it can be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of the
Vessel Pollution and Dangerous Chemicals regulations (Canada),
the U.S. Clean Water Act and the U.S. River and Harbor Act, and
amendments thereto.

(3) No substance shall be discharged or disposed of onto a lock wall or tie-

up wall by any means, including overboard discharge pipes.

(4) Burning of shipboard garbage is prohibited between CIP2 & Cape Vincent
and between CIP 15 & CIP 16.

Automatic Identification System

20. (1) Each of the following ships must use an Automatic Identification
System (AIS) transponder to transit the Seaway:

(a) each commercial ship that requires pre-clearance in

accordance with section 22 and has a 300 gross tonnage or
greater, has a Length Over All (LOA) over 20 meters, or
carries more than 50 passengers for hire; and

(b) each dredge, floating plant or towing ship over 8 meters in

length; except only each lead unit of combined and multiple
units (tugs and tows).

(2) Each ship listed in paragraph (1) of this section must meet the
following requirements to transit the Seaway:

(a) International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolution MSC.74(69),

Annex 3, Recommendation on Performance Standards for a
Universal Shipborne AIS, as amended;

(b) International Telecommunication Union, ITU-R Recommendation

M.1371-5: 2014, Technical Characteristics For A Universal
Shipborne AIS Using Time Division Multiple Access In The VHF
Maritime Mobile Band, as amended;

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 14 of 60

 (c) International Electrotechnical Commission, IEC 61993-2 Ed.3,
Maritime Navigation and Radio Communication Equipment and
Systems –AIS – Part 2: Class A Shipborne Equipment of the
Universal AIS – Operational and Performance Requirements,
Methods of Test and Required Test Results, as amended;

(d) International Maritime Organization (IMO) Guidelines for

Installation of Shipborne Automatic Identification System (AIS),
NAV 48/18, 6 January 2003, as amended, and, for ocean ships
only, with a pilot plug, as specified in Section 3.2 of those
Guidelines, installed close to the primary conning position in the
navigation bridge and a power source accessible for the pilot’s
laptop computer; and

(e) The Minimum Keyboard Display (MKD) shall be located as close to

the primary conning position and be visible;

(f) Computation of AIS position reports using a Satellite Based

Augmentation System (SBAS); or

(g) The use of a temporary unit meeting the requirements of

subparagraphs (2) (a) through (f) of this section is permissible; or

(h) For each ship with LOA less than 30 meters, the use of portable
AIS compatible with the requirements of subparagraphs (2)(a)
through (c) and subparagraphs (e) and (f) of this section is
permissible.

Requirements for U.S. Waters of the St. Lawrence Seaway

21. In addition to the requirements set forth elsewhere in these Practices and
Procedures, ships transiting the U.S. waters of the St. Lawrence Seaway are
subject to the requirements set out in Schedule 1.

PART II - PRECLEARANCE AND SECURITY FOR FEES

Preclearance of Ships

22. (1) No ship, other than a pleasure craft of 300 gross registered tonnage or
less, shall transit until an application for preclearance has been made, in
accordance with section 24 to the Manager by the ship's representative
and the application has been approved by the Manager and the
Corporation pursuant to section 25.

(2) No ship shall transit while its preclearance is suspended or has

terminated by reason of

(a) the expiration of the representative's guarantee of fee payment,

(b) a change of representative of the ship,

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 15 of 60
 (c) a material alteration in the physical characteristics of the ship, until
another application for preclearance has been made and approved,
or

(d) past due invoices by the representative as set out in subsection

75(1).

(2) Unless otherwise permitted by an officer a non-commercial ship of 300

gross registered tonnage or less cannot apply for pre-clearance status
and must transit as a pleasure craft.

Liability Insurance

23. (1) It is a condition of approval of an application for preclearance that the ship
is covered by liability insurance equal to or exceeding $100 per gross
registered ton.

(2) No ship shall transit while its liability insurance is not in full force and
effect.

Application for Preclearance

24. (1) The representative of a ship may apply for preclearance by completing
and submitting the e-business preclearance form on the St. Lawrence
Seaway website (www.greatlakes-seaway.com), giving particulars of the
ownership, liability insurance and physical characteristics of the ship and
guaranteeing payment of the fees that may be incurred by the ship.

Preclearance application must be submitted via the e-business site to

the St. Lawrence Seaway at least 24 hours prior to ship arrival. They
will be reviewed and approved between 08:00 – 16:00 hours Monday
through Friday excluding holidays.
(2) For representatives benefiting from the exemption of security of tolls as
set out in subsection 26(3) and 26(4), a continuous preclearance status
may be assigned to all ships under their responsibility. Validation of the
continuous preclearance status will be required every 5 years.

(3) For representatives with a valid security for fees and a good payment
history as set out in subsection 26(3) and 26(4), a continuous
preclearance status may be assigned to all ships under their
responsibility. Validation of the continuous preclearance status will be
required every year.

(4) In the event that a ship under the representative’s responsibility is

modified or upgraded, an application for preclearance will be required to
update the ship’s information and reset the ship’s preclearance status.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 16 of 60

 Approval of Preclearance

25. Where the Manager and the Corporation approve an application for
preclearance, it shall

(a) give the approval; and

(b) assign a number to the approval.

Security for fees

26. (1) Before transit by a ship to which the requirement of preclearance applies,
security for the payment of fees in accordance with the St. Lawrence
Seaway Schedule of Tolls as well as security for any other charges, shall
be provided by the representative by means of

(a) a deposit of money with the Manager;

(b) a letter of guarantee to the Manager given by a financial institution

approved by the Manager; or

(c) a letter of guarantee given to the Manager by an acceptable

Bonding Company. Bonding companies may be accepted if they:

i) appear on the list of acceptable bonding companies as issued

by the Treasury Board of Canada; and

ii) meet financial soundness requirements as may be defined by

the Manager (or the Corporation) at the time of the request.

(2) The security for the fees of a ship shall be sufficient to cover the fees
as established in the “St. Lawrence Seaway Schedule of Tolls” for the
gross registered tonnage of a ship, cargo carried, lockage tolls as well
as security for any other charges, as estimated by the manager.

(3) Where a number of ships:

(a) for each of which a preclearance has been given;

(b) are owned or controlled by the same individual or company; and
(c) have the same representative,
the security for the fees may not be required if the individual, company or
representative has paid every fee invoice received in the preceding five
years within the period set out in subsection 75(1).

(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3) of this section, where a number of ships,

for each of which a preclearance has been given, are owned or controlled
by the same individual or company and have the same representative,

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 17 of 60

 the security for the fees may be reduced or eliminated provided the
representative has paid every fees invoice received in the preceding five
years within the period set out in subsection 75(1). Upon request from the
Manager, the representative must provide the Manager with a financial
statement that meets the requirements established by the Manager.

(5) Where, in the opinion of the Manager, the security provided by the
representative is insufficient to secure the fees incurred or likely to be
incurred by a ship, the Manager may suspend the preclearance of the
ship.

PART III - SEAWAY NAVIGATION

Compliance with Instructions

27. Every ship shall comply promptly with transit instructions given by the traffic
controller or any other officer.

Speed Limits

28. (1) The maximum speed over the bottom for a ship of more than 12 m in
overall length shall be regulated so as not to adversely affect other ships
or shore property, and in no event shall such a ship proceeding in any
area between a place set out in column I of an item of Schedule II and a
place set out in column II of that item exceed the speed set out in column
III or column IV of that item, whichever speed is designated by the
Manager and the Corporation in a Seaway Notice from time to time as
being appropriate to existing water levels.

(2) Where the Manager or the Corporation designates any speed less than
the maximum speeds set out in Schedule II, that speed shall be
transmitted as transit instructions referred to in section 27.

(3) Every ship under way shall proceed at a reasonable speed so as not to
cause undue delay to other ships.

(4) Every ship passing a moored ship or equipment working in a canal shall
proceed at a speed that will not endanger the moored ship, the moored
equipment or the occupants of either.

(5) Notwithstanding the above speed limits, every ship approaching a free
standing lift bridge shall proceed at a speed so that it will not pass the
Limit of Approach sign should the raising of the bridge be delayed.

Maximum Draught

29. (1) Notwithstanding any provision herein, the loading of cargo, draught and
speed of a ship in transit shall be controlled by the master, who shall take
into account the ship's individual characteristics and its tendency to list

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 18 of 60

 or squat, so as to avoid striking bottom. (The main channels between the Port of
Montreal and Lake Erie have a controlling depth of 8.23 m.)

For details refer to Ship Transit and Equipment Requirements, Section 18.

(2) The draught of a ship shall meet minimum draft requirement as defined
at inspection on the Enhanced Ship Inspection form and not, in any case,
exceed 79.2 dm or the maximum permissible draught designated in a
Seaway Notice by the Manager and the Corporation for the part of the
Seaway in which a ship is passing.

(3) Any ship will be permitted to load at an increased draught of not more
than 7 cm above the maximum permissible draught in effect as
prescribed under 29 (2) if it is equipped with a Draught Information
System (DIS) and meets the following:

(a) An operational Draught Information System (DIS) approved

by a member of the International Association of Classification
Societies (IACS) as compliant with the Implementation
Specifications found at www.greatlakes-seaway.com and
having onboard;

(i) An operational AIS with accuracy approved by the Seaway; and

(ii) Up-to-date electronic charts; and

(iii) Up-to-date charts containing high resolution bathymetric

data; and

(iv) Ships must be equipped with a bow thruster and bow thruster
must be operational.

(b) The DIS Tool Display shall be located as close to the primary
conning position and be visible and legible.

(i) Verification document of the DIS must be kept on board

the ship at all times and made available for inspection;

(ii) DIS license to use the software must be valid;

(iii) Software version of DIS matches that in the IACS verification

letter, or higher;

(iv) A company letter attesting to officer training on use of the

DIS must be kept on board and made available for
inspection;

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 19 of 60

 (v) When transiting Seaway waters with the DIS, a trained officer
on the use of the DIS must be on the bridge;

(c) Any ship not yet approved, but wishing to use DIS in the Seaway
must notify the Manager or the Corporation at least 96 hours in
advance so that arrangements can be made for appropriate testing
for approval to use the DIS to transit the Seaway;

(d) A ship already approved to use DIS to transit the Seaway must email
a completed DIS Confirmation Checklist to
[email protected] 96 hours prior to its initial transit
of the navigation season. The confirmation checklist can be found
at www.greatlakes-seaway.com ;

(e) If for any reason the DIS, AIS, or bow thruster becomes inoperable,
malfunctions or is not used while the ship is transiting at a draught
greater than the maximum permissible draught prescribed under 29
(2) in effect at the time, the ship must notify the Manager or the
Corporation immediately.

Ballast Water and Trim

30. (1) Every ship shall be adequately

a) ballasted,

b) trimmed, and

c) no ship, other than under exceptional circumstances and with

special permission, shall be accepted for transit whose trim by the
stern exceeds 45.7 dm.

d) any ship that is not adequately ballasted and trimmed in the opinion
of an officer may be refused transit or may be delayed.

e) As a condition of transit of the Seaway after having operated

outside the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) every ship that carries
only residual amounts of ballast water and/or sediment that were
taken onboard the ship outside the EEZ shall:

(i) conduct a saltwater flushing of their ballast water tanks that

contain the residual amounts of ballast water and/or sediment
in an area 200 nautical miles from any shore before entering
waters of the Seaway. Saltwater flushing is defined as the
addition of mid-ocean water to ballast water tanks: the mixing
of the flush water with residual water and sediment through the
motion of the ship; and the discharge of the mixed water, such
that the resultant residual water remaining in the tank has as

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 20 of 60

 high salinity as possible, and is at least 30 parts per thousand
(ppt).

The ship shall take on as much mid-ocean water into each tank
as is safe (for the ship and crew) in order to conduct saltwater
flushing. And adequate flushing may require more than one fill-
mix-empty sequence, particularly if only small amounts of water
can be safely taken onboard at one time. The master of the
ship is responsible for ensuring the safety of the ship, crew and
passengers.

Ships reporting only residual ballast water onboard shall take

particular care to conduct saltwater flushing on the transit to the
Great Lakes so as to eliminate fresh or brackish water residuals
in ballast tanks; and

(ii) maintain the ability to measure salinity levels in each tank

onboard the ship so that final salinities of at least 30 ppt can be
ensured.

f) Every tank that is found not in compliance with 30(e) shall retain
any ballast water until it exits the Seaway.

g) These requirements do not apply to ships of the armed forces, as

defined in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, or that are
owned or operated by a state and used in government non-
commercial service.

(2) To obtain clearance to transit the Seaway:

(a) every ship entering the Seaway after operating beyond the
exclusive economic zone must agree to comply with the “Code of
Best Practices for Ballast Water Management” of the Shipping
Federation of Canada dated September 28, 2000, while operating
anywhere within the Great Lakes and the Seaway; and

(b) every other ship entering the Seaway that operated within the Great
Lakes and the Seaway must agree to comply with the “Voluntary
Management Practices to Reduce the Transfer of Aquatic Nuisance
Species Within the Great Lakes by U.S. and Canadian Domestic
Shipping” of the Lake Carriers Association and Canadian
Shipowners Association dated January 26, 2001, while operating
anywhere within the Great Lakes and the Seaway.

(c) For copies of the “Code of Best Practices for Ballast Water
Management” and of the “Voluntary Management Practices to
Reduce the Transfer Of Aquatic Nuisance Species within the Great
Lakes by U.S. and Domestic Shipping” refer to the St. Lawrence
Seaway website at www.greatlakes-seaway.com

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 21 of 60

 For details refer to Ship Transit and Equipment Requirements
item 30 “Ballast Water Tank Information”

Meeting and Passing

31. (1) The Collision Regulations and the United States Inland Rules apply in
respect of the meeting and passing of ships.

(2) No ship shall meet another ship within the area between the caution signs
at bridges or within any area that is designated as a no meeting area by
the Manager or the Corporation.

(3) Except as instructed by the traffic controller, no ship shall overtake and
pass or attempt to overtake and pass another ship

(a) in any canal;

(b) within 600 m of a canal or lock entrance; or

(c) after the order of passing through has been established by the ship
traffic controller.

Cargo Booms - Deck Cargo

32. (1) Every ship shall have cargo booms secured in a manner that affords
maximum visibility from the wheelhouse.

(2) Cargo or containers carried, forward or aft, on deck shall be stowed in a

manner that

(a) affords an unrestricted view from the wheelhouse for the purpose of
navigation; and

(b) does not interfere with mooring equipment.

(3) Seaway Traffic Control Centre shall be notified of the height of deck
cargo prior to transiting the Seaway or when departing from a Port or
Wharf within the Seaway.

Special Instructions

33. No ship of unusual design, ship or part of a ship under tow or ship whose
dimensions exceed the maximum ship dimensions prescribed in section 3 shall
transit the Seaway except in accordance with special instructions of the
Manager or the Corporation given on the application of the representative of the
ship.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 22 of 60

 Ships in Tow

34. No ship that is not self-propelled (including but not limited to tug/tows and/or
deadship/tows) shall be underway in any Seaway waters unless it is securely
tied to an adequate tug or tugs, in accordance with special instructions given
by the Manager or the Corporation pursuant to section 33 and must be
equipped with an operational anchor. Refer to section 49.

Every ship in tow has to be inspected prior to every transit unless it has a valid
Seaway Inspection Certificate. The owner/master shall give a 24 hour notice
of arrival when an inspection is required. For details refer to section 79 2
(d).

Navigation Underway

35. Every ship transiting between calling-in point 2 and Tibbetts Point and between
calling-in points 15 and 16 shall

(a) man the propulsion machinery of the ship, including the main engine
control station;
(b) operate the propulsion machinery so that it can respond immediately
through its full operating range;

(i) Ships equipped with an Engine Power Limitation system (EPL) or

Shaft Power Limitation System (ShaPoLi) shall override the EPL
or ShaPoLi while transiting the Seaway.

(c) man the wheelhouse of the ship at all times by either the master or
certified deck officer, and a helmsman, and;
(d) have sufficient well rested crewmembers available for mooring operations
and other essential duties.

Order of Passing Through

36. Ships shall advance to a lock in the order instructed by the traffic controller.

Mooring at Tie-Up Walls

37. (1) Upon arrival at a lock, a ship awaiting instructions to advance shall moor
at the tie-up wall, close up to the designated limit of approach sign or to
the ship preceding it, whichever is specified by the traffic controller or an
officer.

(2) Crew members being put ashore on landing booms and handling mooring
lines on tie-up walls shall wear approved personal floatation devices.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 23 of 60

 Limit of Approach to a Lock

38. A ship approaching a lock shall comply with directions indicated by the signal
light system associated with the lock and in no case shall its stem pass the
designated limit of approach sign while a red light or no light is displayed.

Preparing Mooring Lines for Passing Through

39. Before a ship enters a lock,

(a) winches shall be capable of paying out and heaving in at a minimum

speed of 46 m per minute; and

(b) the eye of each mooring line shall be passed outward through the
fairleads at the side.

Raising Fenders

39.1 Every ship equipped with fenders that are not permanently attached shall raise
its fenders when passing a lock gate or HFM equipment.

Entering, Exiting or Position in Lock

40. (1) Unless directed by the Manager and the Corporation, no ship shall
proceed into a lock in such a manner that the stem passes the stop
symbol on the lock wall nearest the closed gates.

(2) On being cast off in a lock, no ship shall be allowed to fall back in such a
manner that the stern passes the stop symbol on the lock wall nearest
the closed gates.

(3) Every ship proceeding into a lock shall be positioned and moored as
directed by the officer in charge of the lock

(4) No ship shall use thrusters when passing a lock gate or a Hands Free
Mooring (HFM) unit.

Tandem Lockage

41. Where two or more ships are being locked together, ships astern of the leading
ship shall

a) come to a full stop a sufficient distance from the preceding ship to avoid a
collision; and

b) be moved into mooring position as directed by the officer in charge of the

lock.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 24 of 60

 Passing Hand Lines

42. (1) At locks, hand lines shall be secured to the mooring lines and passed as
follows:

(a) a downbound ship shall use its own hand lines, secured to the eye
at the end of the mooring lines by means of a bowline, which hand
lines shall be passed to the linehandlers at the lock
(i) for the #4 mooring wire, the hand line shall be passed to the
linehandlers at the lock as soon as the ship’s aft fairleads pass
the open gates

(ii) for the #2 mooring wire, the hand line shall be passed to the
linehandlers at the lock as soon as the forward fairleads pass
the last HFM unit.

(b) hand lines shall be passed to upbound ships by the linehandlers as

soon as the ship passes the last HFM unit, and secured, by means
of a clove hitch, to the mooring lines 60 cm behind the splice of the
eye;

(c) at Iroquois Lock and Lock 8, Welland Canal, both upbound and
downbound ships shall use their own hand lines as provided in
paragraph (a); and

(d) upbound ships of overall length in excess of 218 m in Locks 4 and

5, Welland Canal, shall secure the hand line to the eye of the No.1
mooring wire by means of a bowline.

(2) Mooring lines shall not be passed over the side of a ship in a manner
dangerous to a lock crew.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 25 of 60

.
Mooring Table

43. Unless otherwise directed by an officer, ships passing through the locks shall
moor at the side of the tie-up wall or lock as shown in the table to this section.

MONTREAL TO IROQUOIS

South Shore Beauharnois Wiley-Dondero Iroquois

St. Côte Ste. Lower Pool Upper Snell Eisenhower

Lambert Catherine
Locks
Upbound P P S S S S P
Downbound S S P P P P S
Tie-up Walls
Upbound S S P P S S S
Downbound P P S S P P P

WELLAND CANAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Guard 8
Gate Cut
Locks
Upbound S S P P P P P S
Downbound P P S P P P S P
Tie-up Walls
Upbound S S S S S S PorS
Downbound P P P S S P PorS

NOTE: S = Starboard; P= Port

Mooring in Locks

44. (1) The primary means of securing ships in the locks is by way of the Hands-
Free Mooring (HFM) system. Ships being moored by HFM must have a
minimum of one well rested crew member on deck during the lockage to
assist the Bridge team.

(2) Single tugs, tug/barge combinations, and small ships (less than 160m in
overall length) that are not eligible to use HFM are to be processed

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 26 of 60

 without mooring lines at the Canadian Locks with the exception of
upbound lockages at Locks 4, 5 and 6 in the Welland Canal.

(3) Ships being moored by “Hands Free Mooring” system (HFM) or passing
through a lock without the use of mooring lines shall have a minimum of
one (1) well rested crew member on deck during the lockage to assist the
Bridge team.

(4) Ships requiring the use of mooring lines shall be processed as follows:

(a) Mooring lines shall only be placed on mooring posts as directed by

the officer in charge of the mooring operation.

(b) No winch from which a mooring line runs shall be operated until the
officer in charge of a mooring operation has signalled that the line
has been placed on a mooring post.

(c) Once the mooring lines are on the mooring posts, lines shall be kept
slack until the “all clear” signal is given by the lock personnel. When
casting off signal is received mooring lines shall be kept slack until
the “all clear” signal is given by the lock personnel.

Emergency Procedure

45. When the speed of a ship entering a lock chamber has to be checked the
master shall take all necessary precautions to stop the ship in order to avoid
contact with lock structures. At no time shall the ship deploy its anchors to
stop the ship when entering a lock chamber.

Attending Lines

46. (1) Lines of a ship shall be under visual control and attended by members of
its crew during the time the ship is passing through a lock.

(2) While a ship is within a lock chamber and lines are hand held for tension
control, each line shall be attended by at least one member of the ship's
crew.

(4) Mooring lines on deck must be individually attended unless the ship is
equipped with side control and visual contact must be maintained for
signal from lock employees taking or letting go mooring lines.

Leaving a Lock

47. (1) Mooring lines shall only be cast off as directed by the officer in charge of
a mooring operation.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 27 of 60

 (2) No ship shall proceed out of a lock until the exit gates, ship arresters and
the bridge, if any, are in a fully open position and the lock operator gives
the “all clear” instruction.

(3) When “Hands Free Mooring” system (HFM) is used no ship shall use its
engine(s) until the lock operator provides the “all clear” instruction.

Turning Basins

48. No ship shall be turned about in any canal, except

(a) with permission from the traffic controller; and

(b) at the locations set out in the table to this section.

TURNING BASINS

South Shore Canal:

a) Turning Basin No. 1 - Opposite Brossard
b) Turning Basin No. 2 - Immediately below Côte Ste. Catherine Lock

Welland Canal:
a) Turning Basin No. 1 Between Lock 7 and the Guard Gate Cut for ships up to
180 m in overall length
b) Turning Basin No. 2 - Immediately south of Port Robinson (mile 13)
c) Turning Basin No. 3 - North of Lock No. 8 for ships up to 170 m in overall
length
d) For ships up to 80 m in overall length
(i) North end of Wharf No. 1
(ii) Tie-up wall above Lock 1,
(iii) Tie-up wall below Lock 2,
(iv) Wharf No. 9,
(v) Between the southerly extremities of Wharves 18-2 and 18-3

Dropping Anchor or Tying to Canal Bank

49. Except in an emergency, no ship shall drop anchor in any canal or tie-up to any
canal bank unless authorized to do so by the traffic controller.

Every anchor shall be suitability rigged for immediate release, holding and
efficient retrieval.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 28 of 60

 Anchorage Areas

50. Except in an emergency, or unless authorized to do so by the traffic controller,

no ship shall drop anchor in any part of the Seaway except in the following
designated anchorage areas:

(a) Point Fortier (Lake St. Louis)

(b) Melocheville (Beauharnois Canal)
(c) St. Zotique, Dickerson Island and Stonehouse Point (Lake St. Francis)
(d) Wilson Hill Island and Morrisburg (Lake St. Lawrence)
(e) Prescott, Union Park and Carlton Island (St. Lawrence River)
(f) Off Tibbetts Point (Lake Ontario)
(g) Off Port Weller (Lake Ontario)
(h) Off Port Colborne (Lake Erie)

Signalling Approach to a Bridge

51. (1) Unless a ship's approach has been recognized by a flashing signal, the
master shall signal the ship's presence to the bridge operator by VHF
radio when it comes abreast of any of the bridge whistle signs.

(2) The signs referred to in subsection (1) are placed at distances varying
between 550 m and 2990 m upstream and downstream from moveable
bridges at sites other than lock sites.

Limit of Approach to a Bridge

52. (1) No ship shall pass the limit of approach sign at any moveable bridge until
the bridge is in a fully open position and the signal light shows green.

(2) No ship shall pass the limit of approach sign at the twin railway bridges
on the South Shore Canal at Kahnawake, until both bridges are in a fully
open position and both signal lights show green.

Obstructing Navigation

53. No ship shall be operated, drop anchor or be fastened or moored in a manner

that obstructs or hinders navigation.

Interference with Navigation Aids

54. (1) Aids to navigation shall not be interfered with or used as moorings.

(2) No person shall, unless authorized by the Manager or the Corporation,

set out buoys or navigation markers on the Seaway.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 29 of 60

 Searchlights

55. No searchlight shall be used in such a manner that its beam interferes with the
operators at a Seaway structure or on any ship.

Damaging or Defacing Seaway Property

56. The master of every ship shall

(a) navigate so as to avoid damage to Seaway property; and

(b) prevent defacement of Seaway property by any member of the ship's

crew.

Disembarking or Boarding

57. (1) Except as authorized by an officer, no person, other than a member of

the crew of a ship passing through, shall disembark or board any ship
while the ship is passing through.

(2) No member of the crew of a ship passing through shall disembark or

board except for the purpose of carrying out essential duties as directed
by the Master.

(3) Persons disembarking or boarding shall be assisted by a member of the

ship’s crew under safe conditions.

(4) Persons intending on disembarking or boarding a ship shall only do so

after they have confirmed with the Captain that the ship is fully secured in
the lock with Hands-Free Mooring or with mooring lines.

Pleasure Craft Scheduling

58. (1) At the U.S. Locks, the transit of pleasure craft shall be scheduled by
the traffic controller or the officer in charge of a lock and may be delayed
so as to avoid interference with other ships; and

(2) Every pleasure craft seeking to transit Canadian Locks shall first make a
reservation on the Seaway website according to the available schedule.

Pollution

59. (1) No ship shall

(a) emit sparks or excessive smoke; or

(b) blow boiler tubes.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 30 of 60

 (2) No ship shall discharge into Seaway waters any substance not in
conformity with applicable United States Federal Regulations and
Canadian Regulations with the exception of the waters of the Welland
Canal where two specific zones are established in which no substance
shall be discharged, namely,

(a) from lock 7 (Thorold) to mile 17 (Welland); and

(b) from lock 8 (Port Colborne) to the outer Port Colborne Piers (Lake
Erie).

(3) A record shall be kept by the ship of each location within the Seaway or
adjacent waters where bilge water has been discharged.

(4) Except as authorized by the Manager or the Corporation, no ship shall

discharge garbage, ashes, ordure, litter or other materials.

(5) Except as authorized by the Manager or the Corporation, no over the side
painting shall be allowed in the Seaway.

PART IV - RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

Listening Watch and Notice of Arrival

60. (1) Ships shall be on radio listening watch on the applicable assigned
frequency while within a Seaway traffic control sector as shown on the
General Seaway Plan and shall give notice of arrival in the manner
prescribed in section 64 upon reaching any designated calling in point.

(2) Notice of arrival shall be deemed to have been given when it is

acknowledged by a Seaway station.

Assigned Frequencies

61. The Seaway stations operate on the following assigned VHF frequencies:

(a) 156.8 MHz (channel 16) Distress and calling;

(b) 156.7 MHz (channel 14) Working (Canadian stations in Sector 1 and the
Welland Canal);

(c) 156.65 MHz (channel 13) Working (U.S. station in Lake Ontario);

(d) 156.6 MHz (channel 12) Working (U.S. station in Lake Ontario);

(e) 156.6 MHz (channel 12) Working (U.S. stations in Sector 2 of the River);
and

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 31 of 60

 (f) 156.55 MHz (channel 11) Working (Canadian stations in Sector 3, Lake
Ontario and Lake Erie).

Seaway Stations

62. The Seaway stations are located as follows:

VDX20 (Seaway Beauharnois) Upper Beauharnois Lock Traffic Control Sector No.1

KEF (Seaway Eisenhower) Eisenhower Lock Traffic Control Sector No.2

VDX21 (Seaway lroquois) Iroquois Lock Traffic Control Sector No.3

WAG (Seaway Clayton) Clayton, N.Y. Traffic Control Sector No. 4

WAG (Seaway Sodus) Sodus, N.Y. Traffic Control Sector No. 4

VDX72 (Seaway Newcastle) Port Hope, Ontario Traffic Control Sector No. 5

VDX70 (Seaway Newcastle) Port Weller, Ontario Traffic Control Sector No. 5

VDX22 (Seaway Welland) St. Catharines, Ontario Traffic Control Sector No. 6

VDX68 (Seaway Long Point) Port Colborne, Ontario Traffic Control Sector No. 7

Radio Procedures

63. Every ship shall use the channels of communication in each control sector as
listed in the table to this section.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 32 of 60

 CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION

STATION CONTROL SECTOR LIMITS CALL IN WORK LISTENING

SECTOR WATCH
NUMBER
Seaway C.I.P. No. 2 to
Beauharnois 1 C.I.P. No. 6-7 Ch. 14 Ch. 14 Ch. 14
Seaway C.I.P. No. 6-7 to
Eisenhower 2 C.I.P. No. 10-11 Ch. 12 Ch. 12 Ch. 12
Seaway C.I.P. No. 10-11
Iroquois 3 to Crossover Island Ch. 11 Ch. 11 Ch. 11
Seaway Crossover Island to
Clayton 4 Cape Vincent Ch. 13 Ch. 13 Ch. 13
Seaway Cape Vincent to
Sodus 4 Mid Lake Ontario Ch. 12 Ch. 12 Ch. 16
Seaway Mid Lake Ontario
Newcastle 5 to C.I.P. No. 15 Ch. 11 Ch. 11 Ch. 16
Seaway C.I.P. No. 15 to
Welland 6 C.I.P. No. 16 Ch. 14 Ch. 14 Ch. 14
Seaway C.I.P. No. 16 to
Long Point 7 Long Point Ch. 11 Ch. 11 Ch. 16

Calling In

64. (1) Every ship, intending to transit or in transit, shall report on the assigned
frequency to the designated Seaway station when opposite any calling in
point or checkpoint (indicated on the General Seaway Plan) and, when
reporting, shall give the information indicated in Schedule III.

(2) Changes in information provided under subsection (1), including up-dated

ETAs that vary from the ETAs provided under the subsection by 30
minutes or more, shall be reported to the appropriate Seaway station.

(3) A downbound ship in St. Lambert Lock shall switch to channel 10 (156.5
MHz) for a traffic report from Quebec Ship Traffic Management Centre.

(4) After obtaining the situation report referred to in subsection (3), the
downbound ship shall return to guarding channel 14 (156.7 MHz) and
remain on that channel until it is clear of St. Lambert Lock chamber.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 33 of 60

 (5) When the downbound ship has cleared the downstream end of the lower
approach wall of St. Lambert Lock, the master of the ship shall call
"Seaway Beauharnois" and request permission to switch to channel 10
(156.5 MHz).

(6) Seaway Beauharnois shall grant the permission requested pursuant to

subsection (5) and advise the downbound ship of any upbound traffic that
may be cleared for Seaway entry but not yet at C.I.P. 2.

(7) In the event of an expected meeting of ships between the downstream

end of the lower approach wall and C.I.P. 2, the downbound ship shall
remain on channel 14 (156.7 MHz) until the meeting has been completed.

(8) After the meeting, the downbound ship shall call ``Seaway Beauharnois''
before switching to channel 10 (156.5 MHz).

Communication - Ports, Docks and Anchorages

65. (1) Every ship entering or leaving a lake port shall report to the appropriate
Seaway station at the following check points:

(a) for the lake ports of Toronto and Hamilton, 1 nautical mile outside of
the harbour limits; and

(b) for other lake ports, when crossing the harbour entrance.

(2) Every ship arriving at a port, dock or anchorage shall report to the
appropriate Seaway station, giving an estimated time of departure if
possible

(3) At least four hours prior to departure from a port, dock or anchorage,
every ship shall report to the appropriate Seaway station its destination
and its expected time of arrival at the next check point.

(3) Every ship intending to conduct a dive operation and/or Remotely

Operated Vehicle (ROV) inspection at a dock, wharf or approach wall
shall provide a 24-hour minimum notice of diving operations to the
appropriate Seaway Traffic control Centre.

PART V - DANGEROUS CARGO

Applicable Laws

66. (a) Ships carrying a cargo or part cargo of fuel oil, gasoline, crude oil or other
flammable goods in bulk, including empty tankers which are not gas free,
and ships carrying dangerous substances whether break-bulk or
containerized to which regulations made under the Canada Shipping Act
(2001) or under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act or to which
Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 34 of 60
 the Dangerous Cargo Act or the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act
of the United States or regulations issued pursuant thereto apply, shall be
deemed to carry dangerous substances and shall not transit unless all
requirements of the said Statutes and regulations and of these Practices
and Procedures have been fulfilled.

(b) Every ship carrying dangerous cargo, as described in this Part, and all
tankers carrying liquid cargo in bulk shall file with the Manager and the
Corporation a copy of the current load plan described in subsection
72(5).

Carrying Explosives

67. A ship carrying explosives, either Government or commercial, as defined in the

Dangerous Cargo Act of the United States and in the International Maritime
Dangerous Goods Code, Class 1, Divisions 1.1 to 1.5 inclusive, shall be deemed
for the purpose of these Practices and Procedures to be an explosive ship.

Explosives Permission Letter

68. (1) A Seaway Explosives Permission Letter is required for an explosive ship
in the following cases:

(a) for all ships carrying any quantity of explosives with a mass
explosive risk, up to a maximum of 2 tonnes (IMO Class 1, Division
1.1 and 1.5);

(b) for all ships carrying more than 10 tonnes and up to a maximum of
50 tonnes of explosives that do not explode en masse (IMO Class
1, Division 1.2);

(c) for all ships carrying more than 100 tonnes and up to a maximum of
500 tonnes of explosives having a fire hazard without explosive
effect (IM0 Class 1, Division 1.3); and

(d) for all ships carrying more than 100 tonnes and up to a maximum of
500 tonnes of safety explosives and shop goods (IMO Class 1,
Divisions 1.4).

(2) When an explosive ship is carrying quantities of explosives above the

maximum mentioned in subsection (1), no Seaway Explosives
Permission Letter shall be granted and the ship shall not transit.

(3) A written application for a Seaway Explosives Permission Letter certifying

that the cargo is packed, marked and stowed in accordance with the
Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (Canada), the United
States regulations under the Dangerous Cargo Act and the International
Maritime Dangerous Goods Code may be made to The St. Lawrence
Seaway Management Corporation, 202 Pitt Street, Cornwall, Ontario,
Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 35 of 60
 K6J 3P7, or to the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development
Corporation, P.O. Box 520, Massena, New York, U.S.A., 13662.

(4) A signed copy of a Seaway Explosives Permission Letter and a true copy
of any certificate as to the loading of dangerous cargo shall be kept on
board every explosive ship in transit and shall be made available to any
officer requiring production of such copies.

Hazardous Cargo Ships

69. For the purpose of these Practices and Procedures, a ship shall be deemed to
be a hazardous cargo ship in the following cases:

(a) a tanker carrying fuel oil, gasoline, crude oil or other flammable liquids in
bulk, having a flashpoint below 61C, including a tanker that is not gas
free where its previous cargo had a flashpoint below 61C;

(b) a tanker carrying compressed liquefied gases, bulk acids or liquefied

chemicals;

(c) a dry cargo ship carrying the following dangerous substances, whether in
bulk, break-bulk or containerized, that are

(i) in excess of 50 tonnes of gases, compressed, liquefied or

dissolved under pressure (IMO Class 2),

(ii) in excess of 50 tonnes of flammable liquids having a flashpoint

below 61C (IMO Class 3),

(iii) in excess of 50 tonnes of flammable solids, spontaneously

combustible material or substances emitting combustible gases
when wet (IMO Class 4),

(iv) in excess of 50 tonnes of oxidizing substances or organic

peroxides (IMO Class 5),

(v) any quantity of poisonous (toxic) substances and infectious

substances (IMO Class 6),

(vi) any quantity of radioactive substances (IMO Class 7),

(vii) in excess of 50 tonnes of corrosive substances (IMO Class 8),

(viii) any quantity of metal turnings, borings, cuttings, or shavings, in

bulk having a temperature on loading or in transit in excess of
65.5C.

(ix) any quantity of grain that is under fumigation, where the chemical
being used is hazardous to human life, and
Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 36 of 60
 (x) any quantity of direct reduced iron (DRI).

Fendering - Explosive and Hazardous Cargo Ships

70. All explosive ships requiring a Seaway Explosives Permission Letter in

accordance with Section 68 and all tankers carrying cargo with a flashpoint of
up to 61C, except those carrying such cargo in centre tanks with gas free wing
tanks, shall be equipped with a sufficient number of non-metallic fenders on each
side to prevent any metallic part of the ship from touching the side of a dock or
lock wall.

Signals - Explosive and Hazardous Cargo Ships

71. An explosive ship or hazardous cargo ship shall display at the masthead or at
an equivalent conspicuous position a "B" flag.

Reporting - Explosive and Hazardous Cargo Ships

72. (1) Every explosive ship or hazardous cargo ship shall, when reporting
information related to cargo as required by subsection 64(1), report the
nature and tonnage of its explosive or hazardous cargo and the flashpoint
of that cargo where applicable. Every ship carrying grain which is under
fumigation shall declare to the nearest traffic control centre the nature of
the fumigant, its properties and cargo holds affected.

(2) Every explosive ship requiring a Seaway Explosives Permission Letter

shall, when reporting in, give the number of its Seaway Explosives
Permission Letter.

(3) Every hazardous cargo ship carrying metal turnings, shavings, cuttings or
borings in bulk shall, when reporting information related to cargo as
required by subsection 64(1), give the high temperature reading of each
compartment at that time, together with the high temperature reading in
each compartment taken on completion of loading.

(4) Every ship carrying radioactive substances shall, when reporting in, give
the number and date of issue of any required certificate issued by the
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and/or the US Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (USNRC) authorizing such shipment.

(5) Every ship carrying dangerous cargo, as described in section 66, and all
tankers carrying liquid cargo in bulk, and all ships carrying grain under
fumigation shall, prior to transiting any part of the Seaway, file with the
Manager a copy of the current load plan that includes the following
information:

(a) the name of the cargo, its IMO class and UN number as set out in
the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, if applicable, or,
Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 37 of 60
 if the cargo is not classed by the IMO and does not have a UN
number, the words "NOT CLASSED";

(b) the approximate total weight in metric tonnes or total volume in cubic
metres and the stowage location of each commodity;

(c) the approximate weight in metric tonnes or the approximate volume

in cubic metres in each hold or tank;

(d) the flashpoint of the cargo, if applicable; and

(e) the estimated date of entry into the Seaway and the date and time
that the load plan was last issued or amended;

(f) tankers in ballast shall report the previous cargo of each cargo hold
on a plan as above.

(6) For tankers, the information required under this section shall be detailed
on a plan showing the general layout of the tanks, and a midships cross-
section showing the double bottom tanks and ballast side tanks. For
details refer to Ship Transit and Equipment Requirements.

(7) If a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) on a hazardous cargo that a ship is carrying
is not available in a Seaway Traffic Control Centre, the ship shall provide
information enabling the preparation of an SDS.

(8) Every ship shall submit its load plan to the nearest Seaway Traffic Control
Centre from which it will be distributed to all other Seaway Traffic Control
Centres. Any changes in stowage, including loading and discharging
during a transit, the ship shall submit an updated plan before departing
from any port between St. Lambert and Long Point.

(9) Failure to comply with these requirements may result in unnecessary

delays or transit refusal.

Cleaning Tanks - Hazardous Cargo Ships

73. (1) Cleaning and gas-freeing of tanks shall not take place

(a) in a canal or a lock;

(b) in an area that is not clear of other ships or structures; and

(c) before gas-freeing and tank cleaning has been reported to the
nearest Seaway station.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 38 of 60

 Hot Work Permission

(2) Before any hot work, defined as any work that uses flame or that can
produce a source of ignition, cutting or welding, is carried out by any
ship on any designated St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation
(SLSMC) approach walls, Cote St. Catherine wharf or wharves in the
Welland Canal, a written request must be sent to the SLSMC, preferably
24 hours prior to the ship’s arrival on SLSMC Approach walls or
wharves. The hot work shall not commence until approval is obtained
from a SLSMC Traffic Control Centre.

(a) Permission is granted under the following conditions:

(i) Copy of ship’s “Hot Work Permit” provided to SLSMC before

welding commences;
• In the Welland canal send to: [email protected] &
[email protected]
• In the MLO Section send to: [email protected] &
[email protected]
(ii) Name of company performing the hot work;
(iii) Effective fire watch is maintained;
(iv) Welding operations shall temporarily cease during ship meets and
lockages;
(v) Welding operations shall cease at the direction of a Traffic
Controller; and
(vi) All sparks and/or flames to be contained on the ship.

Special Requirements for Tankers Performing Hot Work

(3) Prior to arriving at any SLSMC designated Approach wall or wharf a

tanker must be gas free or have tanks inerted. The gas-free certificate
must be sent to the SLSMC Traffic Control Centre in order to obtain
clearance for the ship to commence Hot Work.

PART VI - FEES ASSESSMENT AND PAYMENT

Transit Declaration

74. (1) A Seaway e-business Transit Declaration (Cargo and Passenger) shall
be completed and submitted to the Manager by the representative of a
ship, for each ship that has an approved preclearance except non cargo
ships, within fourteen (14) days after the ship enters the Seaway on any
upbound or downbound transit.
The e-business Transit Declaration must be filled directly on the St.
Lawrence Seaway website at www.greatlakes-seaway.com and
submitted from e-business.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 39 of 60

 (2) The use of the Harmonized System (HS Codes) and the UN Location
Codes on the e-business Transit Declaration is mandatory to identify
cargo and ports respectively.

(3) The loaded or manifest weight of cargo shall be shown on the Seaway
e-business Transit Declaration, except in the case of petroleum
products where gallonage meters are not available at the point of
loading, in which case offloaded weights may be shown on the e-
business Transit Declaration.

(4) Where a ship carried cargo to or from an overseas port, an electronic

copy of the cargo manifest, duly certified, shall be submitted with the
Seaway e-business Transit Declaration.

(5) A Weigh-Scale Certificate or similar document issued in the place of a

cargo manifest or a bill of lading may be accepted in lieu thereof.

(6) Where a submitted Seaway e-business Transit Declaration is found to be

inaccurate concerning the destination, cargo or passengers, the
representative shall immediately forward to the Manager, revision of the
submitted Declaration.

(7) Submitted Seaway e-business Transit Declarations shall be used in

assessing fees in accordance with the St. Lawrence Seaway Schedule of
Tolls, and fees invoice shall be forwarded to the representative or its
designated agent.

(8) Where government aid cargo is declared, appropriate Canadian or U.S.

customs form or a stamped and signed certification letter from Canada or
U.S. Customs must accompany the e-business Transit Declaration or
notification must be made to the Manager.

Payment of Fees

75. (1) Every fee invoice shall be paid in Canadian funds, within 45 days after
the ship enters the Seaway, and any adjustment of the amount payable
shall be provided for in a subsequent invoice.

(2) Fees, established by agreement between Canada and the United States,
and known as the St. Lawrence Seaway Schedule of Tolls, shall be paid
by pleasure crafts for the transits of each Canadian lock using the
pleasure craft reservation system available on the Seaway web site. At
U.S. locks, the fee is paid in U.S. funds or the pre-established equivalent
in Canadian funds or through payment via Pay.gov on the Seaway web
site.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 40 of 60

 (3) Fees for Seaway arranged security guard in compliance with Transport
Canada Security regulations shall be paid in Canadian funds within 30
days of billing.

(4) Ship representatives with past due invoices, unpaid after 45 days, may
be subject to the suspension of preclearance for each ship of which a
preclearance has been given and/or the immediate removal of the waived
security for the fees set in subsections 26(3) and 26(4).

In-Transit Cargo

76. Cargo that is carried both upbound and downbound in the course of the same
voyage shall be reported with the Seaway e-business Transit Declaration, but is
deemed to be ballast and not subject to fee assessment.

77. (reserved)

PART VII - INFORMATION AND REPORTS

Required Information

78. (1) Documentary evidence, comprising inspection certificates, load line

certificates, crew lists, dangerous cargo manifest and the cargo stowage
plan, shall be carried on board and shall be made available to any officer
requiring production of such evidence.

(2) Documentary evidence, comprising evidence of cargo declared, cargo

manifest, dangerous cargo manifest and bills of lading, shall be kept by
the agent, owner or operator for a period of five years, or until an audit
has been performed by the Manager or Corporation, whichever occurs
first, and such documents shall be made available to an officer requiring
production of such evidence.

(3) When a Declaration of Security (DoS) is required between a ship and

the St. Lawrence Seaway, it shall be completed prior to entry into the
first lock and will remain in effect until the ship exits the St. Lawrence
Seaway at the St. Lambert Lock or the Welland Canal at Port Colborne.

Copy of Declaration of Security can be found at

https://greatlakes-seaway.com/en/commercial-shipping/seaway-
security/

Advance Notice of Arrival, Ships Requiring Inspection

79.
(1) USCG Advance Notice of Arrival – All foreign flagged ships of 300 GRT
or above intending to transit the Seaway shall submit one completed
United States Coast Guard (USCG) Electronic Notice of Arrival (ENOA)
prior to entering at call in point 2 (CIP 2) as follows:

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 41 of 60

 If your voyage time to CIP 2 is 96 hours or more, you must submit an
ENOA 96 hours before entering the Seaway at CIP 2.

If your voyage time to CIP 2 is less than 96 hours, you must submit an
ENOA before departure, but at least 24 hours before entering the
Seaway at CIP 2.

If there are changes to the ENOA, submit them as soon as

practicable but at least 12 hours before entering the Seaway at CIP 2.

The NOA must be provided electronically following the USCG

National Ship Movement Center’s (NVMC) procedures
(http://www.nvmc.uscg.gov).

To complete the ENOA correctly for Seaway entry, select the following:

• “CIP 2” as the Arrival Port,

• “Foreign to Saint Lawrence Seaway” as the Voyage Type, and
• “Saint Lawrence Seaway Transit” as the Arrival State, City and
Receiving Facility.

(2) Foreign Ship Inspection program:

(a) Enhanced Ship Inspections (ESI) – physical ship inspection:

Foreign flagged ships are subject to a Seaway inspection once
every two navigation seasons. Agents must provide an initial notice
of inspection 120 hours prior to the ship’s arrival at CIP2. (to:
[email protected] and to [email protected] )

(b) Subject to satisfactory performance, a Self-Inspection may be

permitted in the interim season. Ship to complete a Foreign Self
Inspection report and submit electronically to
[email protected] and to [email protected]

(c) The ESI or self-inspection is required on the first transit of the

navigation season

(d) Inland Self Inspection: Inland domestic ships which are approved
by the Seaway and are ISM certified and have a company quality
management system, must submit the “Self Inspection Report”,
every 2 navigation seasons and not later than 30 days after “fit out”.

(e) Inland domestic ships not participating in the “Self Inspection

Program”: are subject to a Seaway inspection every 2 navigation
seasons.

(f) Tug/barge combinations not on the “Seaway Approved Tow”

list: are subject to Seaway inspection prior to every transit of the
Seaway unless provided with a valid Inspection Report for a round
trip transit.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 42 of 60

 (g) A tall ship, passenger ship, or ship of an unusual design: is
subject to Seaway yearly Enhanced Ship inspection.

Reporting Dangerous Cargo

80. (1) The master of any explosive ship or hazardous cargo ship shall report to
a Seaway station, as set out in Schedule III, the nature, quantity and IMO
classification of the dangerous cargo and where it is stowed on the ship.

(2) The master of any ship, that takes on explosive or hazardous cargo while
in the Seaway, shall report to the nearest Seaway station at least four
hours prior to commencing transit from a port, dock or wharf, the nature,
quantity and IMO classification of the dangerous cargo and where it is
stowed on the ship.

(3) Ships carrying “Certain Dangerous Cargo” (CDC) as defined in the

Transport Canada “Marine Transportation Security Regulations”
(MTSR’s) and the United States Coast Guard “Marine Transportation
Security Act” shall report the “Certain Dangerous Cargo” to the nearest
Seaway station prior to a Seaway transit.

Reporting an Accident or Dangerous Occurrence

81. (1) Where a ship on the Seaway is involved in an accident or a dangerous

occurrence, the master of the ship shall report the accident or occurrence,
pursuant to the requirements of the Transportation Safety Board
Regulations, to the nearest Seaway station and Transport Canada
Marine Safety and Security or U.S. Coast Guard office as soon as
possible and prior to departing the Seaway system.

(2) Where a ship approaching the Seaway with intent to transit has been
involved in an accident in the course of its last voyage that might affect its
ability to transit safely and expeditiously, the master of the ship shall
report the accident to the nearest Seaway station before entering the
Seaway.

Reporting Mast Height

82. A ship, any part of which extends more than 33.5 m above water level, shall not
transit any part of the Seaway until precise information concerning the height of
the ship has been furnished to the nearest Seaway station.

Reporting Position at Anchor, Wharf, etc.

83. A ship anchoring in a designated anchorage area, or elsewhere, and a ship

mooring at a wharf or dock, tying-up to a canal bank or being held on a canal
bank in any manner shall immediately report its position to the traffic controller
and it shall not resume its voyage without the traffic controller's permission.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 43 of 60

 Reporting of Impairment or Other Hazard by
Ships Transiting within the Seaway

84. While transiting the Seaway, the master of a ship shall immediately report to the
nearest Seaway station:

(a) any condition of the ship that might impair its ability to transit safely and
expeditiously;

(b) any hazardous condition of the ship;

(c) any malfunction on the ship of equipment required by sections 5 to 21

and subsections (5) to (10) of Schedule I;

(d) any modification or malfunction on the ship of equipment and machinery

that is noted as operational in the current “Enhanced Ship Inspection” or
“Self Inspection” of the ship;

(e) any difficulty on the part of the ship in controlling its tow or tows;

(f) any hazard, dangerous situation or malfunctioning aid to navigation which

has not been published in a notice to mariners;

(g) any loss of anchor with particulars of the precise location of the loss; and

(g) any location where visibility is less than one nautical mile.

Reporting of Impairment or Other Hazard

by Ships Intending to Transit the Seaway

85. The master of any ship which intends to transit the Seaway shall report to the
nearest Seaway station, prior to entering the Seaway, any of the conditions set
out in paragraphs 84 (a) to (d).

PART VIII - DETENTION AND SALE IN U.S. WATERS

(The Canada Marine Act applies in Canadian waters)

Security for Damages or Injury

86. An officer may detain a ship that causes

(a) damage to property of the Corporation;

(b) damage to goods or cargo stored on property of the Corporation; or

(c) injury to employees of the Corporation;

until security satisfactory to the Corporation has been provided.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 44 of 60

 Detention for Fee Arrears or Violations

87. (1) An officer may detain a ship where

(a) the fees levied against the ship have not been paid; or

(b) a violation of these Practices and Procedures or U.S Seaway

Regulations has taken place in respect of the ship.

(2) A ship detained pursuant to paragraph (1) (a) shall be released when the
unpaid fees are paid.

(3) A ship detained pursuant to paragraph (1) (b) may be released when a
sum of money in an amount, determined by the Corporation to be the
maximum fine or civil penalty that may be imposed for the violation in
respect of which the ship has been detained, is deposited with the
Corporation as security for the payment of any fine or civil penalty that
may be imposed.

(4) Where a sum of money has been deposited pursuant to subsection (3),
the Corporation may

(a) return the deposit;

(b) hold the deposit in trust as security for the payment of any fine that
may be imposed; or

(c) retain the deposit if the depositor agrees to retention by the

Corporation of the sum deposited.

(5) Although the depositor may have agreed to retention by the Corporation
of an amount deposited under subsection (3), he may bring an action for
the recovery of the amount deposited on the ground that there has been
no violation of these Practices and Procedures or U.S. Seaway
Regulations.

Power of Sale for Fee Arrears

88. Where a ship has been detained pursuant to subsection 87(1) and payment of
the fees or the fine imposed has not been made within a reasonable time after

(a) the time of the detention, in the case of arrears of fees, or

(b) the imposition of the fine or penalty, in the case of a violation,

The Corporation may direct that the ship or its cargo or any part thereof be
seized and sold subject to and in accordance with an order of a court of
competent jurisdiction.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 45 of 60

 PART IX - GENERAL

Transit Refused

89. An officer may refuse to allow a ship to transit when

(a) the ship is not equipped in accordance with sections 5 to 21 and

subsections (5) to (10) of Schedule I when transiting the Canadian waters
of the Seaway;

(b) the ship, its cargo, equipment or machinery are in a condition that will
prevent safe or expeditious transit by that ship; or

(c) the ship is manned with a crew that is considered to be incompetent or

inadequate.

(d) the ship is not in compliance with Transport Canada Marine Safety and
Security, flag state and/or classification society regulations.

Boarding for Inspection

90. (1) For the purpose of enforcing these Practices and Procedures, in both
Canadian and U.S. waters, an officer may board any ship and

(a) examine the ship, its equipment and cargo; and

(b) determine that the ship is adequately manned.

(2) In addition to subsection 90(1) (a) and 90(1) (b) in Canadian waters, a
Manager's officer may also

(a) require any person appearing to be in charge of the ship to

produce for inspection, or for the purpose of making copies or
extracts, any log book, document or paper;

(b) in carrying out an inspection, a Manager's officer may

(i) use or cause to be used any computer system or data

processing system on the ship to examine any data contained
in, or available to, the system;

(ii) reproduce any record, or cause it to be reproduced from the

data, in the form of a print-out or other intelligible output and
remove the print-out or other output for examination or copying;
and

(iii) use or cause to be used any copying equipment on the ship to

make copies of any books, records, electronic data or other
documents.
Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 46 of 60
 (c) In Canadian waters, the owner or person who is in possession or
control of a ship that is inspected, and every person who is found on
the ship, shall

(i) give the officer all reasonable assistance to enable the officer
to carry out the inspection and exercise any power conferred
by the Canada Marine Act; and

(ii) provide the officer with any information relevant to the

administration of these practices and procedures that the
officer may reasonable require.

(3) Ships shall provide a safe and approved means of boarding. Pigeon
holes are not accepted as a means of boarding and an alternate safe
means of access shall be provided.
Removal of Obstructions

91. The Manager or the Corporation may, at the owner's expense, move any ship,
cargo or thing that obstructs or hinders transit on any part of the Seaway.

Wintering and Laying-Up

92. No ship shall winter within the Seaway or lay-up within the Seaway during the
navigation season except with the written permission of the Manager or the
Corporation and subject to the conditions and charges that may be imposed.

Access to Seaway Property

93. (1) Except as authorized by an officer, no person shall load or unload goods
on property of the Manager or the Corporation.

(2) Except as authorized by an officer or by the Seaway Property Regulations

or its successors no person shall enter upon any land or structure of the
Manager or the Corporation or in any Seaway canal or lock area.

Keeping Copies of Documents

94. (1) A paper copy of the ship's valid Ship Inspection Report shall be kept
on board every ship in transit. It must be easily accessible in the
wheelhouse.
(2) A paper or electronic copy of these Practices and Procedures, and
the Seaway Notices for the current navigation year shall be kept on board
every ship in transit. They must be easily accessible in the wheelhouse.

(3) Onboard every ship transiting the Seaway a duplicate set of the Ship’s
Fire Control Plans shall be permanently stored in a prominently marked
weather-tight enclosure outside the deckhouse for the assistance of
shore side fire-fighting personnel.
Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 47 of 60
 Compliance with Practices and Procedures

95. The master or owner of a ship shall ensure that all requirements of these
Practices and Procedures and Seaway Notices applicable to that ship are
complied with.

PART X - NAVIGATION CLOSING PROCEDURES

Interpretation
96. In this Part,

«clearance date» means the date designated in each year by the Manager and
the Corporation as the date by which ships must report at the applicable
calling in point referred to in subsection 97(3) for final transit of the
Montreal-Lake Ontario Section of the Seaway; (date-limite)

«closing date» means the date designated in each year by the Manager and
the Corporation as the date on which the Seaway is closed to ships at
the end of the navigation season; (date de fermeture)

«closing period» means the period that commences on the date designated
in each year by the Manager and the Corporation as the date on which
the closing procedures in section 97 apply and that ends on the closing
date; (période de fermeture)

«Montreal-Lake Ontario Section of the Seaway» means the portion of the

Seaway between the Port of Montreal and mid-Lake Ontario; (section
Montréal-lac Ontario de la voie maritime)

«wintering ship» means a ship that enters the Seaway upbound after
a date designated each year by the Manager and the Corporation and
transits above Iroquois Lock. (navire hivernant)

Closing Procedures and Ice Navigation

97. (1) No wintering ship shall return downbound through the Montreal-Lake
Ontario Section of the Seaway in the same navigation season in which it
entered the Seaway unless the transit is authorized by the Manager and
the Corporation.

(2) No ship shall transit the Montreal-Lake Ontario Section of the Seaway
during the closing period in a navigation season unless

(a) it reports at the applicable calling in point referred to in subsection

(3) on or before the clearance date in that navigation season; or

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 48 of 60

 (b) it reports at the applicable calling in point referred to in subsection
(3) within a period of 96 hours after the clearance date in that
navigation season, it complies with the provisions of the agreement
between Canada and the United States known as the St. Lawrence
Seaway Schedule of Tolls and the transit is authorized by the
Manager and the Corporation.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), the calling in point is,

(a) in the case of an upbound ship, Cap St. Michel; and

(b) in the case of a downbound ship, Cape Vincent.

(4) No ship shall transit the Montreal/Lake Ontario Section of the Seaway
after the period of 96 hours referred to in paragraph (2)(b) unless the
transit is authorized by the Manager and the Corporation.

(5) Every ship that, during a closing period, enters the Montreal/Lake Ontario
Section of the Seaway, upbound or downbound, or departs upbound from
any port, dock, wharf or anchorage in that Section shall,

(a) at the time of such entry or departure, report to the nearest station
the furthermost destination of the ship's voyage and any
intermediate destinations within that Section; and

(b) at the time of any change in those destinations, report such changes
to the nearest Seaway station.

(6) Where ice conditions restrict navigation,

(a) no upbound ship that has a power to length ratio of less than
24:1(kW/metre) and a forward draft of less than 50 dm, and

(b) no downbound ship that has a power to length ratio of less than 15:1
(kW/metre) and a forward draft of less than 25 dm

shall transit between the St. Lambert Lock and the Iroquois Lock of the
Montreal/Lake Ontario Section of the Seaway and CIP 15 and CIP 16 of
the Welland Canal.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 49 of 60

 SCHEDULE I - SHIPS TRANSITING U.S. WATERS
(Sections 21, 84 and 89)

No ship of 1600 gross tons or more shall transit the U.S. Waters of the St. Lawrence
Seaway unless it is equipped with the following manoeuvring data and equipment:

(1) Charts of the Seaway that are currently corrected and of large enough scale and
sufficient detail to enable safe navigation. These may be published by a foreign
government if the charts contain similar information to those published by the
U.S. Government.

(2) U.S. Coast Guard Light List, currently corrected.

(3) U.S. Coast Pilot, current edition.

(4) Current Seaway Notices Affecting Navigation.

(5) The following manoeuvring data prominently displayed on a fact sheet in the
wheelhouse:

(a) for full and half speed, a turning circle diagram to port and starboard that
shows the time and distance of advance and transfer required to alter the
course 90 degrees with maximum rudder angle and constant power
settings;

(b) the time and distance to stop the ship from full and half speed while
maintaining approximately the initial heading with maximum application
of rudder;

(c) for each ship with a fixed propeller, a table of shaft revolutions per minute,
for a representative range of speeds, and a notice showing any critical
range of revolutions at which the engine designers recommend that the
engine not be operated on a continuous basis;

(d) for each ship that is fitted with a controllable pitch propeller, a table of
control settings for a representative range of speeds;

(e) for each ship that is fitted with an auxiliary device to assist in
manoeuvring, such as a bow thruster, a table of ship speeds at which the
auxiliary device is effective in manoeuvring the ship;

(f) the manoeuvring information for the normal load and normal ballast
condition for

(i) calm weather - wind 10 knots or less, calm sea;

(ii) no current;

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 50 of 60

 (iii) deep water conditions water depth twice the ship's draft or greater;
and

(iv) clean hull;

(g) at the bottom of the fact sheet, the following statement:

WARNING

"The response of the (name of the ship) may be different from the above if any of the
following conditions, on which the manoeuvring is based, are varied:

(a) calm weather wind 10 knots or less, calm sea;

(b) no current;
(c) deep water conditions water depth twice the ship's draft or greater;
(d) clean hull;
(e) intermediate drafts or unusual trim."

(6) Illuminated magnetic compass at the main steering station with compass
deviation table, graph or record.

(7) Gyro-compass with illuminated gyro-repeater at the main steering station.

(8) Marine radar system for surface navigation. Additionally, ships of 10,000 gross
tons or more must have a second main radar system that operates
independently of the first.

(9) Efficient echo sounding device.

(10) Illuminated rudder angle indicator or repeaters that are

(a) located in the wheelhouse; and

(b) arranged so that they can easily be read from any position on the bridge.

(11) Illuminated indicator showing the operating mode of that device when ship is
equipped with auxiliary manoeuvring devices.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 51 of 60

 SCHEDULE II
TABLE OF SPEEDS 1
(Section 28)
Maximum Speed over the
Column I – from Column II – To Bottom (knots)
COLUMN III COLUMN IV

1. Upper Entrance South Shore Lake St. Louis 10.5 10.5

Canal Buoy A1 Buoy A13
2. Lake St. Louis Lower Entrance 12 (upb) 11 (upb)
Buoy A13 Lower Beauharnois Lock
14 (dnb) 13 (dnb)
3. Upper Entrance Lake St. Francis 9 (upb) 9 (upb)
Upper Beauharnois Lock Buoy D1 10.5 (dnb) 10.5 (dnb)
4. Lake St. Francis Lake St. Francis 12(upd) 12
Buoy D1 Buoy D49
13.5(dnb) 13.5 (dnb)
5. Lake St. Francis Snell Lock 8.5 (upb) 8 (upb)
Buoy D49 10.5 (dnb) 10.5 (dnb)
6. Eisenhower Lock Iroquois Lock 11.5 10.5
7. Iroquois Lock McNair Island Light Buoy 13 10.5
137A
8. McNair Island Light Buoy 137A Deer Island 11.5 10.5
Lt. 186
9. Deer Island Bartlett Point 8.5 (upb) 8 (upb)
Lt. 186 Lt. 227 10.5 (dnb) 10.5 (dnb)
10. Bartlett Point Tibbetts Point Traffic Lighted 13 10.5
Lt. 227 Buoy Mo (A)
11. Junction of Canadian Middle Open waters between Wolfe 9.5 9.5
Channel and Main Channel and Howe Islands through the
abreast of Ironsides Island Canadian Middle Channel
12. Port Robinson Ramey's Bend through 8 8
the Welland By-Pass
13. All other canals 6 6
1 Maximum speeds at which a ship may travel in the identified area in both normal and high water
conditions are set out in this schedule. The Manager and the Corporation will, from time to time,
designate the set of speed limits that is in effect.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 52 of 60

 SCHEDULE III
CALLING IN TABLE

C.I.P. and Check Point Station to Call Message Content

UPBOUND SHIPS:

1. C.I.P. Entering Sector 1 (order

of passing through established)

(a) Ships transiting from the Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Lower St. Lawrence River Beauharnois 2. Location
Ch. 14 3. Destination
4. Drafts, fore and aft
5. Cargo
6. Manifested dangerous cargo
- nature and quantity
- IMO classification
- location where dangerous
cargo is stowed
7. Pilot requirement
- Lake Ontario
8. Confirm pilot requirement
- Upper Beauharnois Lock
(inland ships only)
(b) Ships in Montreal Harbour,
dock, berth or anchorage

(i) Before getting underway Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Beauharnois 2. Location
Ch. 14 3. Destination
4. Drafts, fore and aft
5. Cargo
6. Manifested dangerous cargo
- nature and quantity
- IMO classification
- location where dangerous
cargo is stowed
7. Pilot requirement
- Lake Ontario
8. Confirm pilot requirement
- Upper Beauharnois Lock
(inland ships only)

(ii) C.I.P. 2 - Entering Sector 1 Seaway 1. Name of Ship

(order of passing through Beauharnois 2. Location
established) Ch. 14

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 53 of 60

C.I.P. and Check Point Station to Call Message Content

UPBOUND SHIPS:

2. C.I.P. 3 - (order of passing Seaway 1. Name of Ship

through established) Beauharnois 2. Location
Ch. l4

3. Exiting Upper Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Beauharnois Lock Beauharnois 2. Location
Ch. 14 3. ETA C.I.P. 7
4. Confirm pilot requirement
- Snell Lock (inland ships
only)

4. C.I.P. 7 - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Leaving Sector 1 Beauharnois 2. Location
Ch. 14

5. C.I.P. 7 - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Entering Sector 2 Eisenhower 2. Location
Ch. 12 3. ETA Snell Lock

6. C.I.P. 8 - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

(order of passing Eisenhower 2. Location
through established) Ch. 12

7. C.I.P. 8A Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Eisenhower 2. Location
Ch. 12

8. Exiting Eisenhower Lock Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Eisenhower 2. Location
Ch. 12 3. ETA C.I.P. II
4. Confirm pilot requirement
- Lake Ontario
5. All ports of call

9. C.I.P. 11 - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Leaving Sector 2 Eisenhower 2. Location
Ch. 12

10. C.I.P. 11 - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Entering Sector 3 Iroquois 2. Location
Ch. 11

11. C.I.P. 12 - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

(order of passing Iroquois 2. Location
through established) Ch. 11

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 54 of 60

C.I.P. and Check Point Station to Call Message Content

UPBOUND SHIPS:

12. Exiting Iroquois Lock Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Iroquois 2. Location
Ch.11 3. ETA Crossover Island

13. Crossover Island - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Leaving Sector 3 Iroquois 2. Location
Ch. 11

14. Crossover Island - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Entering Sector 4 Clayton 2. Location
Ch. 13 3. ETA Cape Vincent or
River Port
4. Confirm pilot requirement
- Lake Ontario

15. Wolfe Is. Cut Seaway 1. Name of Ship

(Beauvais Point) -Ships Clayton 2. Location
leaving main channel Ch. 13 3. ETA Kingston

16. Cape Vincent Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Clayton 2. Location
Ch. 13 3. ETA Sodus Point
4. ETA Port Weller
(CIP 15) or Lake Ontario
Port
5. Pilot requirement
- Port Weller

17. Sodus Pt. Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Sodus 2. Location
Ch. 12 3. ETA mid-Lake Ontario
4. ETA Newcastle

18. Mid-Lake Ontario - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Leaving Sector 4 Sodus 2. Location
Ch. 12

19. Mid-Lake Ontario - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Entering Sector 5 Newcastle 2. Location
Ch. 11 3. Pilot requirement - Lake
Erie

20. Newcastle Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Newcastle 2. Location
Ch. 11 3. Updated ETA Port Weller
(CIP 15) or Lake Ontario
Port
4. Confirm pilot requirement
Port Weller

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 55 of 60

C.I.P. and Check Point Station to Call Message Content

UPBOUND SHIPS:

21. C.I.P. 15 - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

(order of passing Welland 2. Location
through established) Ch. 14

22. Port Colborne Piers Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Welland 2. Location
Ch. 14 3. ETA Long Point

23. C.I.P. 16 Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Long Point 2. Location
Ch. 11

24. Long Point - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Leaving Sector 7 Long Point 2. Location
Ch. 11

25. (Revoked)
26. (Revoked)
27. (Revoked)
28. (Revoked)

C.I.P. and Check Point Station to Call Message Content

DOWNBOUND SHIPS:

29. Long Point - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Entering Sector 7 Long Point 2. Location
Ch. 11 3. ETA C.I.P. 16 or Port
4. Dangerous cargo, as
indicated on the manifest
including
(a) nature and quantity
(b) IMO classification
(c) location where
dangerous cargo is
stowed and, if
proceeding to Welland
Canal
5. Destination
6. Drafts, fore and aft
7. Cargo
8. Pilot requirement
- Lake Ontario

30. C.I.P. 16 - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

(order of passing Welland 2. Location
through established) Ch. 14

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 56 of 60

C.I.P. and Check Point Station to Call Message Content

DOWNBOUND SHIPS:

31. Exiting Lock No. 1 - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Welland Canal Welland 2. Location
Ch. 14 3. ETA Newcastle
4. ETA Cape Vincent or
Lake Ontario Port
5. Pilot requirement
- Cape Vincent

32. C.I.P. 15 Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Newcastle 2. Location
Ch. 11

33. Newcastle Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Newcastle 2. Location
Ch. 11 3. ETA Mid-Lake Ontario
4. ETA Sodus Point

34. Mid-Lake Ontario - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Leaving Sector 5 Newcastle 2. Location
Ch. 11

35. Mid-Lake Ontario - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Entering Sector 4 Sodus 2. Location
Ch. 12

36. Sodus Point Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Sodus 2. Location
Ch. 12 3. Updated ETA Cape Vincent
or Lake Ontario Port
4. Confirm river pilot
requirement - Cape Vincent
5. Pilot requirement - Snell
Lock and/or Upper
Beauharnois Lock (inland
ships only)

37. Cape Vincent Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Clayton 2. Location
Ch. 13 3. ETA Crossover Island or
river port

38. Wolfe Is. Cut (Quebec Head) - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Ships Entering Main Channel Clayton 2. Location
Ch. 13 3. ETA Crossover Island or
river port

39. Crossover Island - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Leaving Sector 4 Clayton 2. Location
Ch. 13

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 57 of 60

C.I.P. and Check Point Station to Call Message Content

DOWNBOUND SHIPS:

40. Crossover Island - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Entering Sector 3 Iroquois 2. Location
Ch. 11

41. C.I.P. 14 Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Iroquois 2. Location
Ch. 11

42. C.I.P. 13 - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

(order of passing Iroquois 2. Location
through established) Ch. 11

43. Exiting Iroquois Lock Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Iroquois 2. Location
Ch. 11 3. ETA C.I.P. 10
4. Harbor or river pilot
requirement St. Lambert
5. Confirm pilot requirement
- Snell Lock (inland ships
only)

44. C.I.P. 10 - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Leaving Sector 3 Iroquois 2. Location
Ch.11

45. C.I.P. 10 - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Entering Sector 2 Eisenhower 2. Location
Ch. 12

46. C.I.P. 9 - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

(order of passing Eisenhower 2. Location
through established) Ch. 12 3. ETA Snell Lock

47. Exiting Snell Lock Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Eisenhower 2. Location
Ch. 12 3. ETA C.I.P. 6

48. Revoked

49. C.I.P. 6 - Seaway 1. Name of ship

Leaving Sector 2 Eisenhower 2. Location
Ch. 12

50. C.I.P. 6 - Seaway 1. Name of ship

Entering Sector 1 Beauharnois 2. Location
Ch. 14

51. C.I.P. 5 - Seaway 1. Name of ship

(order of passing Beauharnois 2. Location
through established) Ch. 14

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 58 of 60

C.I.P. and Check Point Station to Call Message Content

DOWNBOUND SHIPS:

52. Exiting Lower Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Beauharnois Lock Beauharnois 2. Location
Ch. 14 3. Confirm harbour or river
pilot requirement
- St. Lambert
4. Montreal Harbour Berth No.
(if applicable)

53. St. Nicholas Island Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Beauharnois 2. Location
Ch. 14

54. St. Lambert Lock to C.I.P. 2 - Seaway 1. Name of Ship

Leaving Sector 1 Beauharnois 2. Location
Ch. 14

UPBOUND AND DOWNBOUND SHIPS

55. Ships departing from ports Appropriate 1. Name of Ship

between mid-Lake Ontario and Seaway station 2. Location
Long Point, (except ships for sector 3. Dangerous cargo, as
departing westbound from a Lake indicated on the manifest,
Erie port and not transiting in including
the Welland Canal) a) nature and quantity
b) IMO classification
c) location where
dangerous cargo is
stowed and, if
proceeding to Welland
Canal
4. Destination
5. Drafts, fore and aft
6. Cargo
7. Pilot requirement
- Lake Erie if upbound or
Lake Ontario if
downbound

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 59 of 60

 APPENDIX I
SHIP DIMENSIONS

Structures are located at a number of Seaway locks which, when fully raised, overhang the
lock wall at a given point, thereby limiting:

(a) the height of a ship above the water line measured at the ship's side; and

(b) the height of other structures that are located near the sides of the ship, such as
derricks, crosstrees, antennas, etc.

The following block diagram shows the limits beyond which a ship's hull or superstructure
cannot extend when the ship is alongside the lock wall. For details, refer to Ship Transit and
Equipment Requirements.

The limits in the block diagram are based on ships with a maximum allowable beam of 23.2
m. For ships that have a beam width less than this and that have dimensions exceeding the
limits of the block diagram (measured with the ship alongside the lock wall), a special
permission to transit must be obtained. (Accurate measurements may be required before
such permission is granted.)

Caution: Masters must take into account the ballast draft of the ship when verifying the maximum
permissible dimensions. Bridge wings, antennas, masts and, in some cases, the
Samson posts or store cranes could be outside the limits of the block diagram as
indicated in Appendix 1 of the Seaway Handbook and could override the lock wall.
Masters and pilots must take this into consideration and exercise extreme caution when
entering or exiting locks to ensure that the ship does not contact any of the structures
on the lock.

Seaway Practices and Procedures (March 2025) Page 60 of 60