Welland Canal

Now it makes sense. They were competition to each other. Wind energy vs. coal energy.

Not bad considering.
What about the other ship?

Oh I'm sure they knew what was coming, but with nowhere to go and no way to stop it was a slow speed inevitability.

Nothing worse than knowing it's about to happen and nothing to do. We once witnessed a horrifying accident on the streets. Pickup truck ahead of us approaching intersection with green light. Van coming down the hill from the left and clearly not slowing down. In our wide view, all visible. In pickup truck's view, van was way out of the field. They collided and van rolled three times and landed upside down in a ditch. Pickup stopped. He had slammed on his brakes to try to avoid but couldn't. I actually dialed 911 before we got there. My wife ran to the pickup and I to the van. I described it and operator wanted to know injuries and blood and fuel and to my shock there were no serious injuries (turned out pickup truck driver had worst to neck and back). In the van there was a woman and two kids and only injury was slight cut to woman getting out. Pickup truck driver was stunned and kept saying "I thought I had a green light" and we kept telling him he did. Was one idiot cursing and beeping because we had the street blocked. Guess he felt his being able to come through was more important than running to the victims. I know it was only seconds, but from the time we saw the van at the top of the hill until they hit all seemed in slow motion. I futilely blew my horn but they had no idea what that was about. I was terrified when I approached the van thinking surely someone in it would be dead or seriously injured.

I can only imagine how it felt on these two boats and at what point they each realized it was really going to happen.

You nailed it.
They are all over the map. Every day I'm hearing different stories from different people, most not good. Every decision is based on what kind of mood the responding officer is in.

I have got to get my new post 50 to the Erie Canal hopefully early next month. This is all pretty frustrating. Seems like there could be a systems for crews to pass that is documented and agreeable.

Having dealt with Transport Canada for years, I'm surprised they were able to get a certificate to proceed.

BTW, The Florence Spirit made it to Sturgeon Bay... I went past it last eve in the tender and there were guys still welding on it at 7PM.