The St. Lawrence
River
North
America's St. Lawrence water system...which includes the Great
Lakes...is one of the largest in the world and is responsible for
draining more than a quarter of the Earth's fresh water reserves.
The artery of this system, the St. Lawrence River, reaches deep into
the interior of this massive continent, connecting the Great Lakes to
the Atlantic Ocean.
The Saint Lawrence Seaway opened to navigation in 1959. Construction
of the 189-mile (306 km) stretch of the Seaway between Montreal and
Lake Ontario is recognized as one of the most challenging feats in
history. Seven locks were built in the Montreal and Lake Ontario
section of the Seaway (5 Canadian and 2 U.S.) in order to lift
vessels to 246 feet (75 km) above sea level. The 28 mile (44 km)
Welland Canal is the fourth version of a waterway link between Lake
Ontario and Lake Erie, first built in 1829. The present canal was
completed in 1933...deepened in the 1950's as part of the Seaway
project...and further strengthened in 1973. Today, its 8 locks, all
Canadian, lift ships 326 feet (100 km) over the Niagara Escarpment.
The St. Lawrence Seaway system extends 3,700 km (2,340 miles)
from the Atlantic to the head of the Great Lakes.
The Hamilton Port Authority is shared by recreational boaters and
commercial vessels. Hamilton's port is the largest port in Ontario
by tonnage, handling about 10 million tonnes of mixed cargo and
receiving approximately 650 vessels per year. A 2010 study revealed
that cargo contributed to $6 billion in economic activity and 38,000
jobs in the Province of Ontario.
Port of Hamilton is
Shipshape for Spring
Excerpts
from a recent article by The Hamilton Spectator's Natalie Paddon
The first day of spring marks the start of shipping season at the
Port of Hamilton.
“Twenty-one
vessels including ships and barges passed the winter and underwent
repairs in Hamilton and will be venturing back into the Great Lakes
starting March 20,” says Hamilton Port Authority spokesperson
Larissa Fenn.
The maintenance work conducted here is part of an estimated $160
million spent on infrastructure and repair projects this winter by
Canadian ship owners and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management
Corporation in ports ranging from Sarnia to Port Colborne to Thunder
Bay, according to the Chamber of Marine Commerce. “The Hamilton
port never really sleeps,” said Fenn. “There's a lot to do on
board the vessels and on the terminals on land.”
Work has continued on a new $45-million wheat flour mill for the
milling division of grain-handling giant Parrish and Heimbecker
Limited that sits at the foot of Wellington Street North. Another
going concern is a new $50 million grain terminal by Winnipeg-based
G3 Global Grain Group at Pier 26 off Eastport Drive. Both are
expected to begin service this year.
“Ships
that spent the winter in the Port of Hamilton belong to companies
such as McKeil Marine, Lower Lakes Marine and Algoma Central,” said
Fenn. While all of their vessels underwent routine maintenance like
generator and engine overhauls, their biggest project ws a “total
cargo hold re-coating for the Radcliffe R. Latimer,” Kelly Humes
stated, involving “about 50,000 or 60,000 square feet of steel.”
An attached photo shows...Longshoremen loading locally manufactured
components for export at Pier 26 last November.
HMCS
Haida National Site:
Located at Bayfront Park's Pier 9 in Hamilton is a significant
tourist attraction: The HMCS Haida. It was a Tribal class destroyer
that served WWII , the Korean conflict and the Cold War. The Haida
(an Indian Tribal name) is the Royal Canadian Navy's most famous
ship...and the only historic destroyer today, available to view!
Burlington
Bay's Scenic Views
Living and teaching in Hamilton Schools for several years, it was
always a specialty to weekend-drive along Burlington's Northshore
Boulevard and view the horizon across the Bay to Hamilton Harbour and
the city's escarpment level. Often a ship was seen, anchored near
the Skyway Bridge or in the harbour waiting for unloading/loading of
products for and from other ports along the St. Lawrence Seaway...and
frequently freighters from overseas flying their countries' flags.
At Christmas time, the night lights of the Hamilton skyline were
stunning...and the display of Christmas lights and decorations along
Northshore Boulevard were amazing. Often, winter's view across the
Bay gave us ice-boats as they glided, wind-driven along the frozen
water. And in the summer, such a pleasure to view regattas from the
Bay's sailboat marinas.
Who could not enjoy and appreciate the magnificent scenic views
that the Niagara Escarpment offers us? We are so blessed!
Compiled
by Merle Baird-Kerr...March 9, 2017
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