Rule2026-05162
Tariff of Tolls
Primary source
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Published
March 17, 2026
Effective
March 17, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentGreat Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
Abstract
The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) of Canada, under international agreement, jointly publish and presently administer the St. Lawrence Seaway Tariff of Tolls in their respective jurisdictions. The Tariff sets forth the level of tolls assessed on all commodities and vessels transiting the facilities operated by GLS and SLSMC. GLS is revising its regulations to reflect the fees and charges levied by SLSMC in Canada starting in the 2026 navigation season, which are effective only in Canada.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 51 (Tuesday, March 17, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 17, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12693-12694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05162]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
33 CFR Part 402
RIN 2135-AA60
Tariff of Tolls
AGENCY: Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
(GLS) and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) of
Canada, under international agreement, jointly publish and presently
administer the St. Lawrence Seaway Tariff of Tolls in their respective
jurisdictions. The Tariff sets forth the level of tolls assessed on all
commodities and vessels transiting the facilities operated by GLS and
SLSMC. GLS is revising its regulations to reflect the fees and charges
levied by SLSMC in Canada starting in the 2026 navigation season, which
are effective only in Canada.
DATES: This rule is effective March 17, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Docket: For access to the docket to read background
documents or comments received, go to <a href="https://www.Regulations.gov">https://www.Regulations.gov</a>; or
in person at the Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Suite W58-213, Washington,
DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna O'Berry, Chief Counsel, Great
Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, 1200 New Jersey Ave.
SE, Washington, DC 20590; (202) 366-6136.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway
Development Corporation (GLS) and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management
Corporation (SLSMC) of Canada, under international agreement, jointly
publish and presently administer the St. Lawrence Seaway Tariff of
Tolls (Schedule of Fees and Charges in Canada) in their respective
jurisdictions.
The Tariff sets forth the level of tolls assessed on all
commodities and vessels transiting the facilities operated by GLS and
SLSMC. GLS is revising 33 CFR 402.12, ``Schedule of tolls'', to reflect
the fees and charges levied by SLSMC in Canada beginning in the 2026
navigation season.
Regulatory Notices: Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the
electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment,
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.).
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal
Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages
19477-78) or you may visit <a href="https://www.Regulations.gov">https://www.Regulations.gov</a>.
Regulatory Evaluation
This regulation involves a foreign affairs function of the United
States and therefore, Executive Order 12866 does not apply and
evaluation under the Department of Transportation's Regulatory Policies
and Procedures is not required.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Determination
I certify that this regulation will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The St. Lawrence
Seaway Regulations and Rules primarily relate to commercial users of
the Seaway, the vast majority of whom are foreign vessel operators.
Therefore, any resulting costs will be borne mostly by foreign vessels.
Environmental Impact
This regulation does not require an environmental impact statement
under the National Environmental Policy Act (49 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.)
because it is not a major Federal action significantly affecting the
quality of the human environment.
Federalism
GLS has analyzed this rule under the principles and criteria in
Executive Order 13132, dated August 4, 1999, and has determined that
this proposal does not have sufficient federalism implications to
warrant a Federalism Assessment.
Unfunded Mandates
GLS has analyzed this rule under Title II of the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4, 109 Stat. 48) and determined that it
does not impose unfunded mandates on State, local, and tribal
governments and the private sector requiring a written statement of
economic and regulatory alternatives.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This regulation has been analyzed under the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995 and does not contain new or modified information collection
requirements subject to the Office of Management and Budget review.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 402
Vessels, Waterways.
Accordingly, the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development
Corporation is amending 33 CFR part 402 as follows:
PART 402--TARIFF OF TOLLS
0
1. The authority citation for part 402 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 983(a), 984(a)(4), and 988, as amended; 49
CFR 1.101.
0
2. Revise Sec. 402.12 to read as follows:
Sec. 402.12 Schedule of tolls.
[[Page 12694]]
Table 1 to Sec. 402.12
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Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
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Rate ($)
Rate ($) Welland Canal--
Item Description of Montreal to or Lake Ontario to
charges from Lake or from Lake
Ontario (5 Erie (8 locks)
locks)
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1............. Subject to item 3,
for complete transit
of the Seaway, a
composite toll,
comprising:
(1) a charge per
gross registered ton
of the ship,
applicable whether
the ship is wholly
or partially laden,
or is in ballast,
and the gross
registered tonnage
being calculated
according to
prescribed rules for
measurement or under
the International
Convention on
Tonnage Measurement
of Ships, 1969, as
amended from time to
time \1\
(a) all vessels 0.1344.......... 0.2150.
excluding
passenger
vessels.
(b) passenger 0.4032.......... 0.6450.
vessels.
(2) a charge per
metric ton of cargo
as certified on the
ship's manifest or
other document, as
follows:
(a) bulk cargo.. 1.3933.......... 0.9510.
(b) general 3.3572.......... 1.5220.
cargo.
(c) domestic 1.3933.......... 0.9510.
general cargo.
(d) steel slab.. 3.0384.......... 1.0896.
(e) 1.3933.......... 0.9510.
containerized
cargo.
(e) government n/a............. n/a.
aid cargo.
(g) grain....... 0.8560.......... 0.9510.
(h) coal........ 0.8560.......... 0.9510.
(3) a charge per 0.0000.......... 0.0000.
passenger per
lock.
(4) a lockage charge n/a............. 0.3582.
per Gross Registered
Ton of the vessel,
as defined in item
1(1), applicable
whether the ship is
wholly or partially
laden, or is in
ballast, for transit
of the Welland Canal
in either direction
by cargo ships,
Up to a maximum n/a............. 5,011.00.
charge per vessel.
2............. Subject to item 3, 20 per cent per 13 per cent per
for partial transit lock of the lock of the
of the Seaway. applicable applicable
charge under charge under
items 1(1), items 1(1),
1(2) and 1(4) 1(2) and 1(4)
plus the plus the
applicable applicable
charge under charge under
items 1(3). items 1(3).
3............. Minimum charge per 34.78 \2\....... 34.78.
vessel per lock
transited for full
or partial transit
of the Seaway.
4............. A charge per pleasure 25.00 \4\....... 25.00.
craft per lock
transited for full
or partial transit
of the Seaway,
including applicable
federal taxes \3\.
5............. Under the New 20%............. 20%.
Business Initiative
Program, for cargo
accepted as New
Business, a
percentage rebate on
the applicable cargo
charges for the
approved period.
6............. Under the Volume 10%............. 10%.
Rebate Incentive
program, a
retroactive
percentage rebate on
cargo tolls on the
incremental volume
calculated based on
the pre-approved
maximum volume.
7............. Under the New Service 20%............. 20%.
Incentive Program,
for New Business
cargo moving under
an approved new
service, an
additional
percentage refund on
applicable cargo
tolls above the New
Business rebate.
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\1\ Or under the US GRT for vessels prescribed prior to 2002.
\2\ The applicable charged under item 3 at the Great Lakes St. Lawrence
Seaway Development Corporation's locks (Eisenhower, Snell) will be
collected in U.S. dollars. The collection of the U.S. portion of tolls
for commercial vessels is waived by law (33 U.S.C. 988a(a)). The other
charges are in Canadian dollars and are for the Canadian share of
tolls.
\3\ Includes a $5.00 discount per lock with use of online reservation
and payment system for Canadian locks.
\4\ The applicable charge at the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway
Development Corporation's locks (Eisenhower, Snell) for pleasure craft
is $30 USD or $30 CAD per lock.
Issued at Washington, DC, under authority delegated at 49 CFR
part 1.101.
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.
Donna O'Berry,
Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2026-05162 Filed 3-16-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-61-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 17, 2026.
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