Here’s the latest on the Onondaga submarine, based on public reporting up to mid-2025 and referenced updates.
Short answer
- The Onondaga is undergoing a major inspection and protective relocation project at the Pointe-au-Père site in Rimouski, Quebec. The vessel was planned to be lifted out of the water and placed on new concrete supports to shield it from tides and weather, with public viewing opportunities adjusted accordingly. A fall 2025 to 2026 timeline has been cited for completion and return to display with improved access.
Context and key points
- Project scope: The operation to lift the submarine out of the Saint Lawrence River bed aims to raise it by several meters, reposition it, and create a stable, long-term display that reduces deterioration from tidal action. This includes new supports and backfill to keep the hull securely in place, plus enhancements to visitor access to hull features such as propellers, rudders, and hydroplanes.
- Timeline notes: Preparatory work began earlier, with lifting activities targeted for autumn and completion over the 2025–2026 period in public communications. Subsequent reports indicated that work would pause at times to allow ongoing visits inside the hull before finalizing the new exhibit layout.
- Location and ownership: The submarine is a central feature of the Site historique maritime de la Pointe-au-Père in Rimouski, managed as a historic maritime site. The project is coordinated with local authorities and the site’s executive team to balance preservation needs with tourism and interpretation.
- Visitor impact: When lifted and re-supported, the site intended to offer improved vantage points for observers and closer access to various hull components, enhancing interpretive programming while protecting the vessel.
What this means for visitors
- If you plan a visit, expect a period of changes to access and viewing angles as stages of the lifting and stabilization proceed. The site typically communicates updated access windows and any temporary closures or altered routes on their official channels.
Citations
- A 2025 report in French described the plan to lift the submarine out of the water in Rimouski, place it on concrete massifs, and remblay the area for stabilization and viewing adjustments, with work slated to proceed into 2026. This aligns with historical project descriptions of reconfiguration to improve protection and interpretation. Additional coverage from early 2024 outlined the intention to fully lift the submarine from the water and provide close-up access to its components as part of an upgrade.[1][2][3]
If you’d like, I can summarize each source in more detail, or look for the site’s current published timelines and visitor advisories to give you exact dates and access conditions for your planned visit.