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Trump’s Transportation Department Celebrates Opening Season for St. Lawrence Seaway

The St. Lawrence Seaway is a Key Link in the North American Supply Chain, Moves Tens of Millions of Tons of Goods Each Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) yesterday celebrated opening the vital waterway’s 68^th navigation season at the St. Lambert Lock in Quebec, Canada. GLS Administrator Mike McCoshen was joined by St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) President and CEO Jim Athanasiou to welcome MV BLACKY—the first commercial vessel to travel through the lock and kick off the new navigation season.

“Under President Trump, we are looking for ways to unleash innovation in the St. Lawrence Seaway,” said GLS Administrator Mike McCoshen. “By investing in AI-driven logistics and automation, we are optimizing routes, cutting costs, and expanding capacity to usher in a new Golden Age of Shipping on the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System.”

For nearly seven decades, the United States, alongside Canada, has operated the St. Lawrence Seaway as a binational system, serving eight U.S. states and providing critical infrastructure that connects the Great Lakes region to global markets and strengthens American competitiveness.

Each year, the Seaway moves essential cargo—including grain, energy, and project freight—supporting U.S. industry and reinforcing its role in North America’s supply chain. U.S. tonnage has remained steady in recent seasons, and we enter the 68^th navigation season well positioned to build on that momentum and expand use of this strategic corridor.

As the new season begins, GLS remains focused on driving efficiency, advancing innovation, and working with Canadian partners to ensure this vital waterway continues to support American jobs, economic growth, and national trade priorities.