Beatrix, a container which left the Twin Ports this year, is the first to mark the end of 2017’s commercial shipping season in the Port of Duluth-Superior and across the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system.
It is loaded with 12,000 metric tons of spring wheat at the CHS elevator in Superior, a grain cargo shipped for the United Kingdom, according to the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.
Cargo plans:
This 512-foot cargo ship is one in the fleet of Wagenborg vessels that flies the flag of the Netherlands. Its estimated departure may have been 8 p.m. or later, to allow the ship clear the Seaway locks by Christmas day.
Also, Great Lakes freighters will resume their shipping traffic to move bulk cargoes through the port and across Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron and Erie until mid-January due to likely weather conditions and icebreaking. The Soo locks at Sault Ste. Marie city near Michigan will close at midnight on January 15. This marks the end shipping through the Port of Duluth-Superior.
Annual shipping stats:
The surge in shipments of Minnesota iron ore have outpaced records this season which was not seen in a decade. A total of 17.5 million short tons was shipped until November which is a 35 percent annual increase. This shows that the the port’s total tonnage after 2016 season-end stats has increased considerably.
Coal shipping was steady and deliveries of project cargo and bulk cargoes like limestone, cement, clay and salt were key to increase the overall tonnage up 17 percent during the final stretch. But, the grain shipments fell short when compared with last few years stats.
Expectations:
Looking ahead, a half-dozen lakers will be spending winter layup at the Twin Ports undergoing some heavy-duty maintenance and repair work. This happens inline with preparation for the Soo Locks to reopen by March 25 and also to commence the 2018 commercial navigation season.
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Source: Business North
