Commercial and pleasure navigation | The level of the river under close surveillance

The Saint Laurent river has been the subject of close surveillance. Meanwhile, due to a water level at its lowest since 2021, which could affect commercial navigation and many other uses.

“We are in a relatively dry period,” confirms Michel Leclerc, engineer and hydrologist. Nevertheless, The level of the river is low because the levels of all the rivers that feed it. For example, Lake Ontario first, and the Outaouais river, the Richelieu and Saint-Maurice rivers all have lower flows than normal, “he explains.

A less snowy winter. Consequently, a thinner ice cover in large lakes and commercial pleasure navigation | level lower precipitation in summer are factors that influence the river level.

The water level at the port of Montreal was 11.24 m on Monday, very close to the minimum guaranteed for commercial navigation. However, “The current situation should be maintained in the coming days. Meanwhile, ” said the spokesperson for the Port of Montreal, Renée Larouche.

If the water level had to drop more. Furthermore, “there are ships that will have to lighten their loads,” says Jean-Denis Girard, director general of the Corporation of the Pilots of the St. Consequently, Lawrence Central.

The pilots of the St. Meanwhile, Lawrence are responsible for the conduct of transatlantic ships in the maritime route of the St. Consequently, Lawrence between the Escoumins and Montreal. Meanwhile, Those in the Saint-Laurent Central zone support navigation between Quebec and Montreal.

“We are not hiding from it. However, there is not much water this year,” says Jean-Denis Girard, who, from his office located by the river in Trois-Rivières, saw the other side of the beaches that were not there at the start of the summer.

“These are cycles,” says Mario Bonenfant, navigation director of the Desgagnés group. When it happens, we load the ships less and it forces us to make an more trip. We reduce speed. There are costs associated with that. »»

Commercial pleasure navigation | level

Cost increase

These costs can be considerable depending on the size of the ship. “Each decrease of 1 centimeter of the water level means that you can load 100 tonnes less. Additionally, ” illustrates Claude Comtois, professor emeritus of geography at the University of Montreal commercial pleasure navigation | level and advisor to the Port of Montreal. The goods that cannot be transported must be stored and additional trips become necessary.

However, the shipowners are not caught with a ship too busy in the middle of the Atlantic, the professor explains. They are notified enough in advance of the water levels in the destination ports and can adjust the loads accordingly.

The river level has already been more problematic for commercial navigation. according to Jonathan White, vice-president, commercial affairs, Canada SteamShip Lines, whose headquarters in Montreal.

The water level of the Maritime Way of the St. Lawrence, which allows goods to go very far to the heart of the North American continent, is very closely monitored. The port of Montreal, but also the Coast Guard, the Corporation of the Pilots of the St. Lawrence, the Corporation for the Management of the Maritime Way of the St. Lawrence and a host of specialists are interested in it closely.

“We monitor it very closely,” said Professor Comtois. Technology today allows you to have real -time data. There is no reason to panic. It is very watched by very competent people. »»

Surprised boaters

The drop in river water level can have huge impacts for commercial navigation. supply chains, but also for many other uses. Municipal drinking water intakes can be found above the level of the watercourse. Vegetation, fish and marine mammals and even hydroelectric production can be affected.

Until now, it is mainly boaters who undergo the effects. Break of propellers and engine parts multiply, says Pierre-Olivier Dumas. His company Dumas Marine. which has branches in Trois-Rivières and Sorel-Tracy, is very busy these days with the repairs of the breakage caused by boaters who sail in the places they know, but which are no longer accessible to them because of the low water.

Even putting boats in the water can be more complicated, because the descents are too short, he specifies. “I’ve been in the field for 10.15 years and commercial pleasure navigation | level I had never seen that. »»