IMMEDIATE RELEASE             January 13, 2006

Duluth, Minn., U.S.A.—The Port of Duluth-Superior’s last outbound cargo vessel of the season downbound through the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., is expected to depart tonight (January 13), while in-lake vessel traffic is scheduled to continue into next week.

Interlake Steamship Company’s Mesabi Miner is tentatively scheduled to depart at 11 p.m. from Canadian National’s DM&IR Duluth taconite facility with about 52,830 metric tons of iron ore destined for Nanticoke, Ont. The Soo Locks officially close to vessel traffic at midnight on January 15, and will open again to spring vessel traffic March 25.

Interlake Steamship Company’s James R. Barker is expected to arrive Saturday (January 14) at Superior’s Midwest Energy Resources company for about 53,000 tons of coal for Presque Isle, Mich., then return to this Port January 17 for winter berthing, marking the Port of Duluth-Superior’s last vessel movement of the season. A total of 11 vessels are expected to winter in the Port (tentative list attached.)

The Port’s final outbound cargo vessel last season downbound through the Soo Locks was ISG-Burns Harbor Inc.’s Stewart J. Cort, which departed January 14 from Superior’s Burlington Northern Santa Fe taconite facility with about 55,000 tons of iron ore destined for Burns Harbor, Ind.

The Port’s last ocean vessel this season, the British West Indies-flagged Federal St. Laurent, departed December 19 from Duluth’s AGP Grain Limited with about 3,000 metric tons of durum wheat and 19,000 metric tons of non-GMO beans, both destined for Finland. The Montreal Lake Ontario section of the St. Lawrence Seaway System saw its last vessel traffic December 29, and the Welland Canal section of the System closed December 30. The St. Lawrence Seaway System’s 2006 season reopening is scheduled for late March.

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

More Press Releases, 2006