THUNDER BAY -- The United States Coast Guard cutter Alder has arrived in Thunder Bay to open shipping lanes to allow the 2018 navigation season to start.
The 225-foot Juniper-class, multi-purpose buoy tender made her way toward the harbour on Monday following a voyage from her home port of Duluth, Minnesota.
She had originally been expected in Thunder Bay as early as March 13 but was delayed in the southwestern end of Lake Superior.
The locks at Sault Ste. Marie are scheduled to reopen on March 25.
The Welland Canal won't open until March 29.
Seven vessels spent the winter in Thunder Bay:
- Algoma Equinox
- Whitefish Bay
- CSL Tadoussac
- CSL Assiniboine
- Thunder Bay
- G3 Marquis
- Algoma Discovery
When shipping resumes, outbound vessels can expect to get help on their voyage east from the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Samuel Risley and from another USCG vessel.
