GLIN==> First LAKERS In & Outbound Next Week; 2009 Shipping Season Gets Underway in Duluth-Superior

March 27, 2009


IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

For more info: Adele Yorde  or Jim Sharrow, 727-8525


 

2009 Shipping Season Gets Underway in Duluth-Superior;  

First "Lakers" In & Outbound Next Week 

 

Duluth, Minn., U.S.A. - Early maritime traffic on the Great Lakes is off
to a slower-than-usual start, due to the sluggish economy and spring ice
conditions.  Early indications point to an April 2 opening of the Port
of Duluth-Superior's 2009 Great Lakes commercial navigation season with
the anticipated arrival of the Burns Harbor, first inbound arrival via
the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., which opened to vessel traffic
on March 25. She will proceed to the BNSF Dock in Superior to load iron
ore.  The 1,000-foot vessel was built in 1980 and is part of the
American Steamship Co. fleet.  

Local vessel traffic through the Port will commence for the season on
March 30 with the loading and anticipated late afternoon departure of
Interlake Steamship Company's James R. Barker from its winter berth at
MERC's Superior Terminal with approximately 58,000 tons of coal for
their in-lake destination of Presque Isle, Mich. Two additional
1,000-footers are scheduled to depart soon thereafter: the Walter J.
McCarthy will load coal at MERC immediately after the Barker; and the
Lee A. Tregurtha will head to Two Harbors to load iron ore pellets at
CN/DMIR. The Edward L. Ryerson, John G. Munson and Edgar B. Speer will
also be getting underway after winter layup on April 1. The U.S. Coast
Guard Cutter Alder has been opening channels in the harbor and along the
North Shore for the past two weeks.

No firm arrival dates are known for the Port's first oceangoing vessel
this year. The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway officially begins its
2009 navigation season at 8 a.m. on March 31 with the opening of the
Welland Canal and Montreal-Lake Ontario sections of the Seaway (11 days
behind last year's earliest record-tying start). The Port of
Duluth-Superior typically sees its first "saltie" in early to mid-April.
Last year, the Gadwall arrived on April 10; the Port's earliest arrival
of an oceangoing vessel was the Indian vessel LT Argosy on April 1,
1995. The captain of the first "saltie" will be greeted by local
maritime officials with a welcoming ceremony, where the winner of an
annual "First Ship Contest" - sponsored by the Port Authority, Visit
Duluth and 92KQRS Minneapolis - will be announced. The winner will
receive a "Visit Duluth" getaway package including hotel accommodations,
meals and passes to local attractions.   

- 30 -

NOTE:  All arrival and departure times are estimates and may change
without notice.

 

 

Adele Yorde

Public Relations Manager

Duluth Seaway Port Authority

1200 Port Terminal Drive

Duluth, MN  55802-2609 U.S.A.

218-727-8525

218-390-6973 (cell)

 

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