Welland Canal

A drone photo of the flight locks and second pictures flight locks looking north to L3 of Welland Canal

New Canada Customs Forums
If you are bringing a American Yacht to the Great Lakes this year via the Welland Canal you must complete the attached forums.
You do not have apply for (LMIA) Canadian Work Permit if you are transiting the Welland Canal as you are going from a American Port to a American Port but if US Captain is picking up a boat in Ontario you must apply for LMIA.
Note: the owner can not be on the boat while transiting the Welland Canal.

Welland Canal is open for Pleasure Craft May 1/2021
This year you must make a reservation to transit canal.
I will post the information as soon as the Seaway releases it

There will be eight yachts on that ship they are loading in Fort Lauderdale first week of May as the ship is foreign flagged he now has to unload in Canada ( Jones Act)
Viking Dealer in Michigan has a new Sunseeker on the way from England and that ship is allowed to unload in Cleveland.
That same ship when it unloads the Sunseeker is going back out the Seaway and back in a few weeks with five new Absoulutes to unload again in Cleveland.
The only thing I can figure out is he is picking those boats in Canada.

Changes to Transits St Lawrence Seaway
Welland Canal https://greatlakes-seaway.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/pcb_wel210422_en.pdf
Just a reminder the owner can not be onboard vessel in Canada

Changes to Transits St Lawrence Seaway
Montreal Section https://greatlakes-seaway.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/pcb20210422_en.pdf

Was my third trip down the canal this year.
It was a very busy day for commercial ships 18 in the system.
Seaway traffic called me and they wanted to get us out of the system, the ship on the star board tie is tied up and the one on the port is moving.
As not to delay shipping they wanted us to enter lock seven as quick as we could.
It was a long day.
They announced yesterday they extended Border closed until June 21/21 and probably longer.
American Gov is pushing for July opening.
Buffalo NY wants to get approval to allow Canadian's to come over for vaccines as in Canada they are low on supplies.
We have to wait four month for second shot.
A lot of people in Buffalo have summer homes in Ontario and have not been here in two years.

Still American owners can not be on Yacht in Canada

Seahawk
Had a good run up canal Sunday 112' Westport ex Omin Sea Sunday on Seahawk 112' Westport ex Omin Sea

Today Sedna Desgagnes was up bound Welland Canal with 17 yachts loaded in Fort Lauderdale on May 17 & 18 & 19 to unload in Sarnia Ontario they are all American yachts. There is 12 yachts on deck 5 in the hold.
Seaway Traffic Control took pictures for me through their TV cameras. That one way to avoid Covid 19 restrictions with Canada