"Salties"
Visitors
to the Great Lakes from around the World
A
salty is a freighter that can ply both the Great Lakes system and the
Atlantic ocean. Previous to 1959, the Great Lakes were a closed system
as far as freighters were concerned. Only a few ocean going vessels
could navigate past Montreal, because of size limitations. All that
changed in the late `50s when the St. Lawrence Seaway was expanded and
officially opened in 1959.
Even today the locks along the Great Lakes seaway limit the size of
salty's size. No ocean going vessel can be wider than 78 feet (with
a 26' draft).
Salties
in the Seaway before 1959
"MAUDE THORDEN" 1939 (ac)
Norwegian "HAVMOY" 1939
"PRINS
FREDERICK HENDRIK" struck at Port Colborne breakwall 1939
First
Ocean Ship "POLYRIVER" unloading sugar at Scobie's Homer Dock
April 26, 1955
Anchored
off Port Weller June 25, 1959
First
foreign ship April 27 - First through Seaway
