ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY, N.Y. -- The St. Lawrence Seaway is set to hold opening ceremonies for the 2012 navigation season next week.

This year, the "Top Hat Opening Ceremony" will be held Thursday at Lock three on the Welland Canal in St. Catherines, Ontario.

The ceremony rotates between American and Canadian locks on the St. Lawrence River and Canadian locks on the Welland Canal, and this year, St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation President and CEO Terence Bowles will make a presentation.

This is the 54th year of navigation on the Seaway and the Seaway Tug "Robinson Bay" will arrive at Clayton next week to start placing navigation buoys and markers along the waterway.