IMMEDIATE RELEASE             April 2, 2007

APRIL 2, 2007 IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Duluth, Minn., U.S.A.—The Port of Duluth-Superior’s 2007 St. Lawrence Seaway navigation season is scheduled to officially open at approximately 8 a.m. on Tuesday (April 3) with the arrival of the Canadian-flagged Maritime Trader under the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge.

The vessel will proceed to Duluth’s Cargill grain facility for about 16,000 tons of spring wheat destined for Quebec. It is scheduled to depart April 4.

The winner of the annual “First Ship Contest” sponsored by Visit Duluth, 92 KQRS Minneapolis and the Duluth Seaway Port Authority will be announced during a welcoming ceremony to be held for the Maritime Trader. The winner will receive a “Visit Duluth” getaway, including hotel accommodations, meals and passes to local attractions.

Commanded by Captain Jim Perkins from Canada, the 607-foot bulk carrier was built in 1967 at Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood, Ontario, and is operated by Voyageur Marine Transport, Ltd. Local agent for the vessel is Guthrie-Hubner, Inc.

The Welland Canal section of the St. Lawrence Seaway opened to vessel traffic on March 20, and the Montreal-Lake Ontario section of the Seaway opened March 21, the earliest openings for regular shipping season since 1959.

The Port’s earliest oceangoing vessel arrival since the 1959 opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway was April 1, 1995, with the arrival of the Indian vessel LT Argosy.

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Contact: Lisa Marciniak, Port Promotion Manager, phone: 218-727-8525

More Press Releases, 2007