The
Port's last ocean vessel, the Federal St. Laurent, departed Dec.
19 from Duluth's AGP Grain Limited with about 3,000 metric tons of durum
wheat and 19,000 metric tons of non-GMO soybeans destined for Finland. The
Montreal/Lake Ontario section of the St. Lawrence Seaway saw its last traffic
Dec. 29, with the Welland Canal section closing Dec. 30. 
photo: Kenneth Newhams, Duluth Shipping News
The
Port's last outbound cargo vessel of the season downbound through the
Soo Locks was Interlake Steamship Company's Mesabi Miner, which
left Jan. 13 from Canadian National's DM&IR Duluth taconite facility
with about 52,830 metric tons of iron ore for Nanticoke, Ont. The locks
at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., officially closed to vessel traffic at midnight
Jan. 15, and will open again March 25.
Interlake
Steamship Company's James R. Barker marked the Port's last vessel
movement of the season, arriving for winter berthing on Jan. 17. Eleven
vessels wintered in the Port, as listed below:
New
Harbor Royalty
The Vista Fleet added a new harbor excursion vessel last season, the Vista Queen. (right). The 66-foot, double-decked vessel joined the Fleet's Vista Star and Vista King in offering harbor tours departing from berths adjacent to the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center and at Barker's Island in Superior. The harbor excursion vessels offer the best viewing of docks along the Port's 40-plus miles of waterfront.