IMMEDIATE RELEASE             December 16, 2004

Duluth, Minn., U.S.A.—The Port of Duluth-Superior’s last ocean vessel of the season is expected to depart at approximately 1 p.m. Friday (December 17), while Great Lakes traffic should continue for about another month.

The Gibraltar-flagged Ostkap is expected to complete loading about 6,800 metric tons of wheat destined for Northern Europe at AGP Grain Limited, Duluth, and exit via the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge.

Grain exports are a vital component of the Port’s economic makeup, representing more than 30 percent of the $2 billion worth of cargo transshipped via Port of Duluth-Superior docks annually. The 335-foot bulk carrier Ostkap was built in 2000 at Gdansk Shipyard, Poland. Local agent for the vessel is Guthrie Hubner, Inc., and the stevedore is Ceres, Inc.

The Montreal-Lake Ontario section of the St. Lawrence Seaway System is scheduled to close to traffic midnight December 24, and the Welland Canal section of the System is scheduled to close midnight December 26. Vessels not clearing the locks prior to these dates will be accepted only under written agreement and will be assessed operational surcharges, and all vessels must be clear of the System by midnight December 29.

Laker traffic in the Port is expected to continue into mid-January because of the fixed closing date for the Sault Ste. Marie Locks of midnight January 15.

The Ostkap’s departure will mark the close of the Port’s 2004 St. Lawrence Seaway oceangoing vessel navigation season. The Port’s final Seaway transit last year was December 19 with the departure of the Panamanian-flagged Spar Ruby.

The Port’s latest Seaway departure since the System’s 1959 opening occurred December 22, 1984, with the exit of the Liberian-flagged Federal Calumet.

AGP Grain has the distinction of loading the last ocean ship for this and the past five seasons, with the Ostkap, Spar Ruby, Lake Ontario, Spar Garnet, Lake Champlain and the Lady Hamilton.

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

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