Welland Canal launches 2011 season

Local News

Related Photos

THE FIRST SHIP: Captain Peter Schultz of the Peter R. Cresswell (in background), tips the Top Hat he was presented Tuesday, symbolic of the start of the 2011 navigation season. The Cresswell was destined for Detroit. Photo contributed by CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The Peter R. Cresswell chugs along the Welland Canal. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

March 23, 2011

By Don Glynn The Tonawanda News The Tonawanda News Wed Mar 23, 2011, 01:22 AM EDT

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. — Under clear blue skies and only a light breeze off the lake, the Welland Canal opened Tuesday with brighter prospects for the 2011 navigation season.

The Peter R. Cresswell, a 730-foot self-unloading vessel built at Collingwood, Ont., in 1982, was the first upbound ship to enter the locks linking Lakes Erie and Ontario.

At present, the ship is loaded with cement clinker from the St. Mary’s Cement Plant in Bowanville and it is destined for Detroit.

As part of a 64-year-old ceremony, Captain Peter Schultz of the Creswell was presented the traditional Top Hat before nearly 100 persons in the Welland Canal Museum and Visitors Center.

“We are currently projecting a 7 percent overall increase in cargo tonnage within the Seaway system,” said Stephen Kwok, regional director of the Niagara Region for the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp.

In 2010, more than 29.2 million tons of cargo moved through the seven lift locks, compared with 26.4 million tons in 2009.

Kwok said: “For years, marine transportation has played a crucial and yet often overlooked growth in our economy.”

Noting that an estimated 150 million people live within an eight hour drive of a major Great Lakes port, he added that people will begin to appreciate the current role of marine transportation and its potential for the future.

Greg Wight, president and chief executive officer of the Algoma Central Corp., which owns the Cressswell, said his company has committed $400 million for new state-of-the-art Equinox Class vessels.

Gary Burroughs, regional chairman of the Niagara Region government, said, “The Welland Canal has been an integral part of Niagara’s storied history, our culture and our economic prosperity. The canal is part of an integrated navigation system that provides service to miners, farmers, factory workers and commercial interests.”

St. Catharines Mayor Brian McMullen said the visitors center offering an elevated view of the canal and its operations attracted some 75,000 people from all over the world last year.

Text Only

Local News

Maid contract sails away
Canadian officials award $500M lease for Hornblower Co. for boat tours

February 23, 2012
Teen OK after being hit by car
No tickets issued in Tuesday night accident in City of Tonawanda.

February 23, 2012
Signal updates to begin in March
Traffic lights at five intersections will be modernized.

February 23, 2012
Gas up
Analysts say recent rise in fuel prices to continue; to approach $5 mark later in year.

February 23, 2012 1 Photo
Valenti’s equipment to be auctioned
Owner of building says new restaurant deal nearing.

February 23, 2012
Lent begins
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lent season for Christians and is a day that many abstain from eating meat. With fish the most popular option, many local churches and service organizations hold fish fries.

February 23, 2012 3 Photos
Sanborn residents to get in the ‘zone’
Town hosting public meeting tonight on zoning changes in hamlet.

February 22, 2012 3 Photos
City OK’s firefighters contract
New pact mirrors police department agreement.

February 22, 2012
Environmental groups question federal standards
Regulations not strong enough to stop spread.

February 22, 2012
Drivers minus Nexus cards delay traffic
Unclear why so many non-Nexus users ended up at international span Monday.

February 22, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Related Photos

Welland Canal launches 2011 season

Site Map

Contact Us