Toronto (December 19, 2023) –  As part of PortsToronto’s annual preparation for winter, crews will be removing the “keep out” buoys located west of the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport from Toronto’s Harbour between 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 20 through to 5:00 a.m. Thursday, December 21. The buoys located to the east of the airport were removed on December 18.

The buoys, placed in the Harbour each spring by PortsToronto to help ensure the safe navigation of boats and ships, will be immediately replaced by similar markers called “winter spars” to ensure the continued safety of ships, such as ice breakers, utilizing the Harbour.

The removal is done on a yearly basis prior to freezing and the formation of ice in the Harbour, and is necessary to perform regular maintenance, repairs and upkeep on the buoys. The buoys will be returned to the Harbour in spring, after ice in the lake has thawed.

While the buoy removal is taking place, passersby can expect to see a PortsToronto-marked tugboat, barge and crane needed to lift the six-tonne buoys in the Harbour. We do not anticipate any noise or disruption generated by the activity.