IMMEDIATE RELEASE             March 16, 2004

Duluth, Minn., U.S.A.—Although the Soo Locks will not open to vessel traffic until March 25, the Port of Duluth-Superior’s first shipping activity within Lake Superior is scheduled to begin this week.

Interlake Steamship Company’s Paul R. Tregurtha is scheduled to depart early Wednesday (March 17) from its winter berth at Superior’s Midwest Energy Resources Co. (MERC) with about 55,340 metric tons of coal destined for Marquette, Mich.

Interlake’s Kaye E. Barker is scheduled to shift from its winter berth at Superior’s Fraser Shipyards, Inc., to MERC on Saturday (March 20) for about 16,780 metric tons of coal destined for Taconite Harbor, Minn.

The Tregurtha is then scheduled to return to MERC Saturday (March 20) for about 55,340 metric tons of coal also for Marquette.

Additional vessels wintering in the Port are scheduled to move between March 20 and March 27 (list attached).

Local vessel traffic commenced last season with the March 23 departure of Great Lakes Fleet, Inc.’s, Edgar B. Speer.

A first arrival ceremony will be held when the Great Lakes navigation season officially begins with the Port’s first inbound ship from the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., which opens to vessel traffic at 12:01 a.m. March 25.

An additional welcoming ceremony will be held for the Port’s first 2004 oceangoing vessel arrival, which will also qualify a winner for the annual “First Ship Contest” sponsored by the Port Authority, Duluth Convention and Visitors Bureau and 92 KQRS Minneapolis. Prizes include a weekend getaway to Duluth with hotel accommodations, meals and passes to local attractions. The Welland Canal and Montreal-Lake Ontario sections of the St. Lawrence Seaway are scheduled to open March 23 and March 25 respectively.

CONTACT: Lisa Marciniak, Port Promotion Manager, Phone 218-727-8525

More Press Releases, 2004