MASSENA -- The Eisenhower Lock Visitors Center will open for the season on May 22.

It will remain open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Sept. 7.

The center includes an observation deck where people can watch commercial vessels and cruise ships from around the world as they transit the lock. Guides are available. Hundreds of ships from all over the world transit the St. Lawrence Seaway annually. They carry a wide variety of cargoes including grains, iron ore, coal, steel stone, steel slabs and project cargoes.

Guided tours and fact sheets are available in Mohawk, Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.

The Massena Chamber of Commerce operates a gift shop on the premises that sells wares from local vendors and Seaway memorabilia. It is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.

Due to security measures, visitors will be asked to leave all packages, bags and backpacks in their vehicles. For those necessary items that need to be carried into the viewing area, visitors may be asked to present them for inspection or have them checked by a metal detecting wand. This will be conducted at a manned checkpoint upon entering the visitors’ center area from the parking lot. The center may periodically close to visitors at the discretion of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. The top deck is open to the public.

The center off state Route 37 in Massena. Turn right at the traffic light at the St. Lawrence Centre Mall main entrance if approaching westbound or left if heading eastbound. The entrance is 1.5 miles ahead on the right.

For up-to-date information on estimated vessel transit times, call (315) 769-2422 for a voice recording of that day’s projected lockage schedule. Additional information is at http://bit.ly/1QPFbk9. The map updates every 15 minutes with details on those ships currently in transit within the Seaway System. To receive specific lock information, visit http://bit.ly/1ICRSOa and pull down the “Order of Turn” information. This offers real-time information on those vessels preparing to enter any of the locks.