The first commercial ship to use the bypass in the Welland Canal between Port Colborne and Port Robinson was the laker Senneville, which made the trip(...)

Original Toronto Star caption: The first commercial ship to use the bypass in the Welland Canal between Port Colborne and Port Robinson was the laker Senneville, which made the trip yesterday as the St. Lawrence Seaway opened for the season. The $188 million by-pass, which took six years to build, eliminates six lift bridges along the canal and several bends in the channel. By-pass trims 30 minutes from the previous 13 to 14-hour trip through the canal. Ice conditions on lakes are light.