ST. LAWRENCE RIVER, New York (WWNY) – Dozens of ships remain anchored in the St. Lawrence River after cold December temperatures caused the waterway to ice over earlier than usual, delaying the seaway’s closure and raising environmental concerns.

The early freeze transformed the flowing river into a parking lot for commercial vessels.

Save the River, a Clayton-based environmental group, warns that the ships’ movement in an otherwise calm winter environment could harm the river and its wildlife.

“It’s kind of like having a helicopter indoors. It’s just extensive and it really echoes and causes a huge disruption,” said Bridget Wright, executive director of Save the River.

Environmental and safety concerns

Wright said movement in an otherwise calm environment could hurt the river and its wildlife.

“In the winter, it could really loosen up toxic chemicals that have been in the sediment, like mercury and such like that,” Wright said.

The ice also creates safety challenges for emergency responders. Fire boats cannot reach the freighters through the ice, potentially complicating emergency response efforts.

“How do you get to a ship during a situation like that? What you really end up doing, you’re calling in helicopters from Cleveland to come and support, or from the Canadian Coast Guard,” said Michael Folsom of the social media group Seaway Ship Watchers.

Ships begin moving

As of Tuesday evening, five ships remained parked near Cape Vincent and Clayton, down from seven or eight on Monday. One vessel, The Big Lift, was seen moving through Ogdensburg on Tuesday after being frozen near Carleton Island on Sunday.

The seaway’s Monday closing date has been extended, but no new closure date has been posted.

Save the River has long advocated for ending the shipping season earlier due to unpredictable weather conditions.

“In the end, as we’re watching and observing, I can’t imagine what’s going on internally if shipments are supposed to be somewhere by a certain and now everything’s paused. I just, I don’t see the value in trying to add that,” Wright said.

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