IN ONTARIO, DOZENS OF SHIPS HAVE BEEN WAITING AT EITHER ENDS OF THE WATERWAY LINKING LAKES HURON AND ERIE.

>> $2 MILLION A DAY, THAT'S WHAT IT IS COSTING THE SHIP STILL WAITING TO CLEAR THE RIVER CHANNEL.

>> 75 ORE CARRIERS AND FREIGHTERS ARE AWAITING PASSAGE AT BOTH ENDS OF THE RIVER WHICH HAS BECOME THE HUGE BOTTLENECK FOR THE ENTIRE St.

LAWRENCE SEAWAY.

>> APRIL 22nd, EASTER SUNDAY.

WE'RE STILL AT ANCHOR ON LAKE HURON.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE WE'RE PART OF A MAJOR NEWS STORY.

IT'S SO QUIET HERE.

WE WERE ONLY TWO DAYS OUT OF DULUTH WHEN ICE IN THE RIVER LEADING TO LAKE ERIE FORCED THE SHIP TO A STANDSTILL.

ALL THE MOMENTUM FROM THE DEPARTURE HAS EVAPORATED AND NO ONE ON BOARD KNOWS WHEN WE'LL MOVE ON.

>> SO TODAY IT WAS EASTER, SO WE HAD A SPECIAL MEAL.

FIRST WE HAD A COCKTAIL OF CRAB, YOU KNOW, IN FRANCE IT'S THE SAME LIKE IN ENGLISH.

>> MOST OF THE 22 PEOPLE ON BOARD GATHER IN THE OFFICERS' MESS.

AS BELGIANS, THEY SPEAK PHLEGMISH OR FRENCH.

AMONG THE ABLE-BODIED SEAMEN ARE SEVERAL SPANISH MEN.

THE AB'S EAT IN THE MESS OF THEIR OWN.

>> AFTER THE COCKTAIL, WE HAD CONSOMME, SO IT'S KIND OF BOUILLION AND -- WITH SOME VEGETABLES, TO LET IT TASTE TO GIVE IT A NAME.

>> NICOLAI, HE SAILS FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS.

ERBANE COHEN, THE STEWARDESS, SUZIE GILLIS IS ONE OF THREE WOMEN ON BOARD.

SHE SALES WITH HER HUSBAND, THE BOSUN.

>> AFTERWARDS, WE HAD BOCHEREPRESENT IEA-LORRAINE.

CHIEF ENGINEER AND HEAD OF THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT SHIP'S RADIO OFFICER, DANIELLE.

PAUL PETERS, JUNIOR ENGINEER.

HE'S BEEN SAILING ONLY 2 MONTHS.

HUGO, THIRD ENGINEER JUNIOR.

>> AFTER THAT WE HAD PHILIPPE EN CROUTE.

SAME AS KIND OF LIKE TENDERLOIN, WE HAD SOME VEGETABLES, SOME GREEN BEANS AND ASPARAGUS, WITH.. IT'S LIKE BACON, POTATOES WHO'S BEEN AT SEA 16 YEARS.

WILLIE, THIRD ENGINEER, TONY DEBLESSER, THIRD MATE.

HIS WIFE, STEPHANIE, SAILS WITH HIM.

OFFICERS WITH A RANK OF THIRD OR HIGHER CAN BRING THEIR WIVES WITH THEM FOR UP TO 3 MONTHS.

ON THE BRIDGE, SECOND MATE STANDS WATCH.

OFFICERS ARE REFERRED TO BY TITLES.

RARELY BY FIRST OR LAST NAME.

THEY MAY SAIL TOGETHER FOR WEEKS WITHOUT KNOWING EACH OTHER'S NAMES.

THEY WILL LEAVE BUT ON BOARD, THE HIERARCHY WILL REMAIN.

>> THEN AT LEAST WE HAVE.

.. KIND OF AN EASTER CAKE.

KIND OF AN EASTER CAKE.

KIND OF AN EASTER CAKE.

STILL NO NEWS ABOUT WHEN THE SHIP WILL RAISE ANCHOR.

AFTER WAITING FOR WEEKS TO BEGIN THE VOYAGE, WE'RE FRUSTRATED BY FURTHER DELAY BUT THE OFFICERS SAY, BE PATIENT.

LIFE ON A SHIP IS WAITING, WAITING ALL THE TIME.

THEY KNOW THEY CAN'T INFLUENCE EVENTS AND WE WONDER AT THEIR ABILITY TO IDLE IN LIMBO FOR DAYS BUT THEN TO ACCELERATE AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE WHEN EVENTS CHANGE.

CHANGE.

CHANGE.

CHANGE.

INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS >> BUT DESPITE OUR HIGH HOPES, THE SHIP MOVED ONLY FOUR MILES CLOSER TO EUROPE THAT DAY.

THERE WASN'T ENOUGH DAYLIGHT TO GET THROUGH THE St.

CLAIR RIVER AND WE SPENT TWO MORE NIGHTS AT ANCHOR.

ALL TOLD, THE FIVE-DAY DELAY MEANT A MINIMUM OF $40,000 LOSS TO THE CANADIAN SHIPPING FIRM CHARTERING THE SHIP.

BUT FINALLY, WE DID