| Around the Port New warehouse on the drawing board — and is much needed With growth of more than 300 percent since 1991, Duluth’s Clure Public Marine Terminal operator, Lake Superior Warehousing Co., Inc., (LSW) has literally outgrown its warehouse. In addition to its historic role in handling waterborne cargo, the Duluth terminal has become a principal distribution center for U.S. and Canadian companies moving various forms of forest products, agricultural commodities and manufactured goods. "We’re now servicing accounts throughout North America, the northwest region and statewide throughout Minnesota," said Gary Nicholson, LSW president. "Most of this commerce is foreign in origin or destination. "In order to continue to grow and create jobs and revenues in Minnesota, we must have additional space." Present warehouse capacity is about 255,000 square feet. According to Mr. Nicholson, an additional 144,000 square feet of space is necessary. The Seaway Port Authority of Duluth, owner of the terminal, is therefore re-questing support from the Minnesota Legislature for construction of a major new ware-house. Design and engineering work for the new warehouse was completed in 1998 with a legislative allocation of $250,000. Construction costs are estimated at $4.9 million. The Port Authority is seeking the money through a 1999 legislative appropriation.
Midwest Energy reaches a milestone, sets a record Another milestone was passed this winter when the Midwest Energy Re-sources Corp. recorded its 200 millionth ton of low-sulfur western coal through the Superior Midwest Energy Terminal. Up-per Lakes Towing Co.’s bulk carrier Joseph H. Thompson — MERC’s 4,068th vessel since the terminal opened in 1976 — carried the notable cargo in November to Taconite Harbor, Minn. MERC now moves more cargo annually than any other Port facility and in 1998 broke its own all-time Port coal-handling record for the fifth straight year. Final figures were expected to total some 16 million short tons. Svensson Shipping gets new owner and new name The local staff remains the same, but the customs brokerage and vessel agency services provided for 40 years by the Svensson Shipping Agency is now known as A.N. Deringer, Inc., d/b/a Buchanan Customs Brokers & Agency. Robert Buchanan, who acquired the Svensson agency from founder Theodore W. Svensson in 1970, announced his company has been acquired by A.N. Deringer., Inc., of St. Albans, Vermont. "By becoming part of A.N. Deringer, Inc., this office will have complete access to Deringer’s full range of international logistics services and information technology," said Mr. Buchanan. "As Deringer employees, we will continue to provide the same high level of service and assure our customers of a virtually seamless transition." The late Mr. Svensson started the original company in 1959.
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 IcebreakerThe U.S. Coast Guard and the Seaway Port Authority of Duluth hosted 72 guests onboard the cutter Sundew on Jan. 4 for an ice-breaking and navigational aid demonstration. The tour was designed to celebrate the end of a successful shipping season, kick off the 1999 ice-breaking season and show local and regional officials the important role the cutter plays in maintaining commercial shipping lanes. Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn. (center), who led the way in securing funding for ice-breaking activities, was aboard with Adolph N. Ojard (left), president of USS Great Lakes Fleet, and LCDR Michael Husak, Captain, cutter Sundew. |
| Ballast issues studied in Harbor Can filters be used to keep invasive aquatic species out of a ship’s ballast system? If so, what types of filters? Are they efficient? Are they practical? These are among the questions being analyzed in a Great Lakes Ballast Technology Demonstration Project sponsored by numerous U.S. and Canadian organizations, including the Seaway Port Authority of Duluth. Now in its third year, the project was centered in the Duluth-Superior Harbor last summer as technical specialists con-ducted tests from barge-mounted equipment at the Clure Public Marine Terminal. The project’s principal investigators are the Lake Carriers’ Association, Cleveland, and the Northeast-Midwest Institute, Washington, D.C. |
 The subject is wheat Statkorn AS brought a group of 22 country elevator operators from Norway to the Port of Duluth-Superior for an agricultural tour in October. Ellen Ystgaard Tjemsland, S t a t k o r n , Norway, met with AGP Grain Limited President Thomas E. Grosser to discuss a coming shipment of wheat from Duluth’s AGP elevator to Norway. Mr. Grosser is also president of the Port Authority’s Board of Commissioners. |
 New governor calls on PortNewly-elected Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura visited the Port Authority in mid-December and was greeted by Commissioners Helena Jackson and, to her right, Janet Nelson. Port Director Davis Helberg, center, made the introductions. At left is Lt. Gov. Mae Schunk. The Port Authority was established by the Minnesota Legislature in 1955, and the governor appoints two of the authority’s seven commissioners. Gov. Ventura, who took office Jan. 4, was given an overview of Port operations by the administrative staff and a brief tour of a state-created facility, the Clure Public Marine Terminal.
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