Dec. 30, 12:57 EDT
Welland Canal stays open two extra days for Stelco
Dave Kewley
The Hamilton Spectator
The St. Lawrence Seaway has extended the closing deadline for the Welland Canal by two days to accommodate a special request by Stelco to allow it to get in enough raw materials for winter production.
Steve Morse of Public Works Canada said yesterday Stelco's supply line was interrupted by the big winter storm that slammed southern Ontario and Hamilton Dec. 23-24 and left the Burlington Canal lift bridge paralysed by a buildup of ice that froze the massive counterweights in place.
The bridge was immobilized at 4 a.m. Dec. 24 and was unable to resume operation until 7 p.m. Christmas day.
The delay forced nine ships carrying ore and coal for the steelmaker to ride out the storm, while anchored offshore in Lake Ontario.
"They lost almost two days of valuable time and Stelco was in desperate need of raw materials to get through the winter," says Michel Brolet, vice-president of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. "So we agreed to keep the canal open another two days."
The Welland Canal, which enjoyed its best year in the past five in 2004, was to close at 12:59 last night, but now is scheduled to remain open until one minute before midnight, New Year's Eve.
The Seaway vice-president says if all goes well, the last ship scheduled to transit the canal tomorrow will be the Laurentian, carrying a full load of iron ore.
dkewley@thespec.com 905-526-3474
Welland Canal stays open two extra days for Stelco
Dave Kewley
The Hamilton Spectator
The St. Lawrence Seaway has extended the closing deadline for the Welland Canal by two days to accommodate a special request by Stelco to allow it to get in enough raw materials for winter production.
Steve Morse of Public Works Canada said yesterday Stelco's supply line was interrupted by the big winter storm that slammed southern Ontario and Hamilton Dec. 23-24 and left the Burlington Canal lift bridge paralysed by a buildup of ice that froze the massive counterweights in place.
The bridge was immobilized at 4 a.m. Dec. 24 and was unable to resume operation until 7 p.m. Christmas day.
The delay forced nine ships carrying ore and coal for the steelmaker to ride out the storm, while anchored offshore in Lake Ontario.
"They lost almost two days of valuable time and Stelco was in desperate need of raw materials to get through the winter," says Michel Brolet, vice-president of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. "So we agreed to keep the canal open another two days."
The Welland Canal, which enjoyed its best year in the past five in 2004, was to close at 12:59 last night, but now is scheduled to remain open until one minute before midnight, New Year's Eve.
The Seaway vice-president says if all goes well, the last ship scheduled to transit the canal tomorrow will be the Laurentian, carrying a full load of iron ore.
dkewley@thespec.com 905-526-3474
