THUNDER BAY — Weather conditions have delayed the opening of navigation in Thunder Bay.
The first vessels were expected in port over the weekend, but strong northwesterly wind blowing across Lake Superior kept them bottled up in Whitefish Bay at the eastern end of the lake.
Thunder Bay harbourmaster Guy Jarvis described the winds as gale-force, saying they caused three-to-four meter waves and freezing spray that can cause ice to accumulate on vessels.
"It's more of a safety issue," Jarvis said in an interview Monday.
He said if the wind subsides, ships should start heading west Monday night or Tuesday morning.
It takes about a day for a ship to make the crossing from Whitefish Bay to Thunder Bay.
