In October of 2024 the preliminary feasibility assessment conducted at CSEM concluded that it was feasible for container vessels of this size to transit to and from Montreal with potentially only an incremental increase in the level of Navigational and Manouevring Risk. This second phase assessment focused on identifying specific factors and situational occurrences that could attribute to an elevated level of risk, and identified mechanisms that could be used to mitigate them.

The maneuvers were conducted by pilots from the Central St. Lawrence Pilots Corporation (CPSLC). Similar to the Phase 1 analysis, this study included maneuvers involving encounters and overtaking other vessels, passages through critical curves, docking and undocking with tugs, some under difficult conditions, as well as emergency maneuvers. Additionally, specific emphasis was placed on emergency manœuvres in the vicinity of Pont Laviolette and Pont Quebec to examine the risk of a vessel striking one of the bridges, as well as other emergency manoeuvres in the vicinity selected port and anchorage areas.