Strike at St. Lawrence Seaway Stranding Goods and Ships at the Port of Thunder Bay

The shutdown of the St. Lawrence Seaway has effectively halted the passage of ships through the Port of Thunder Bay on Lake Superior in northwestern Ontario.

On Sunday, hundreds of workers stationed between Lake Erie and Montreal went on strike after failing to reach an agreement with their employer by the strike deadline, according to the union.

With the seaway locks closed, ships are currently unable to either load up at Thunder Bay or offload cargo to be transported west. If the strike persists for more than a few days, it has the potential to significantly disrupt or even halt shipments, cautioned Chris Heikkinen, the Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Thunder Bay.

“It’s the busy time of the season for shipping grain as well as potash and other Western Canadian commodities,”

“so every day that the strike continues has an impact here in Thunder Bay.” he said.

At present, operations at the port are ongoing, with Heikkinen mentioning that workers are still actively unloading shipments, including grain, onto trains. However, Heikkinen noted that the port’s storage capacity may become strained in due course. Additionally, there is a potential for extended seaway closure to affect business, as shippers might opt for alternative routes to bypass the port.

A number of ships are presently anchored at the port, awaiting a resolution to the strike.