IMMEDIATE RELEASE             March 24, 2005

Duluth, Minn., U.S.A.—Duluth, Minn., U.S.A.—The Port of Duluth-Superior’s 2005 Great Lakes commercial navigation season is scheduled to officially open at about 4:30 a.m. Saturday (March 26) with the arrival of Interlake Steamship Company’s Lee A. Tregurtha under the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge.

The Tregurtha will proceed to the Duluth Missabe & Iron Range Railway Co. taconite facility for about 15,000 tons of iron ore pellets destined for Indiana Harbor, Ind. The Tregurtha is scheduled to be the Port’s first inbound arrival via the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., which are scheduled to open to vessel traffic at 12:01 a.m. March 25.

Following closely behind on Saturday (March 26) are Oglebay Norton Marine Services Company’s Columbia Star, which will visit Superior’s Midwest Energy Resources Company (MERC) for about 55,400 metric tons of coal destined for St. Clair, Mich., and ISG-Burns Harbor, Inc.’s, Stewart J. Cort, which will stop at Superior’s Burlington Northern Sante Fe taconite facility for about 55,000 metric tons of iron ore destined for Burns Harbor, Ind.

The Lee A. Tregurtha wintered in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., prior to traveling to Duluth-Superior. The 826-foot self-unloading bulk carrier was built in 1942 at Bethlehem Shipbuilding & Drydock Company, Sparrows Point, Maryland. She was converted from a tanker to a straight deck bulk carrier and lengthened in 1961, lengthened again in 1976 and converted to a self-unloader in 1978. Local agent for the vessels is S.A. McLennan Company.

Local vessel traffic commenced this season with the March 17 departure of Interlake Steamship Company’s James R. Barker from its winter berth at MERC with about 57,000 tons of coal for Minnesota Power’s Taconite Harbor plant. The Barker then returned to MERC to load about 55,350 metric tons of coal for an additional in-lake destination, this time Marquette, Mich.

The Port’s first 2005 oceangoing vessel will be greeted by local maritime officials with a welcoming ceremony, and 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 section of the St. Lawrence Seaway opened to vessel traffic on March 23, and the Montreal-Lake Ontario section of the Seaway is scheduled to open March 25.

Increased iron ore shipments and a strong coal-shipping year for the Port of Duluth-Superior boosted total commerce for the 2004 season to 41.4 million metric tons—its highest level since 1979—and the Port Authority is anticipating another strong shipping season in 2005.

More Press Releases, 2005