Dear Member,
The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation is requesting for vessels to override their power limiters in certain areas of the Seaway transit as outlined in Seaway Notice #8.
New statutory requirements, mandating all ships to calculate their attained Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) entered into force on January 2023. A means to reduce vessel emissions has been through the use of Shaft Power Limitation (ShaPoli) or Engine Power Limitation (EPL) both of which limit the vessel’s power output which assists with fuel economy and emissions reduction targets. However, since these new measures came into force, the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) has noticed an issue with the ships ability to safely maneuver around their locks and infrastructure due to the reduced power.
As such, the SLSMC has issued Seaway Notice #8 advising that a ship’s main engine must be in the full operating range while in the:
- MLO section between calling-in point 2 and Tibbetts Point and;
- Welland Canal between calling-in points 15 and 16.
During the initial transit with an EPL or ShaPoLi system, the owners/operators are required to notify the Seaway via email slsmcmarineservices@seaway.ca of the power limitation system in place and to confirm that the system will be overridden in the areas mentioned above. For subsequent transits, vessels may be requested to confirm that the power limitation systems will be overridden.
Please click here for the SLSMC’s presentation explaining the incorporation of section 35(b) which highlights the requirement to operate the propulsion machinery so that it can respond immediately through its full operating range.
Please address any questions/concerns to the undersigned.
Sincerely,
Chad Allen
Director, Marine Operations
Shipping Federation of Canada