Back in action!
Local vessel traffic commenced for 2007-2008 with the March 16 departure of Interlake Steamship Company’s Mesabi Miner under the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge from her winter berth at Midwest Energy with about 56,000 metric tons of coal for the in-lake destination of Marquette, Mich.
The Port’s Great Lakes commercial navigation season started with the March 25 arrival of the H. Lee White, the first boat to arrive from beyond the Soo Locks. Shortly after coming through the Superior entry she tied up at the Burlington Northern dock in Superior and began loading iron ore pellets.  In inset: Kenneth Newhams (left), Duluth Shipping News, was onboard to greet Captain Steve Hooton at a welcoming ceremony heralding the event.  The Soo Locks opened to vessel traffic at 12:01 a.m. on March 25.

The Port of Duluth-Superior’s 2007 St. Lawrence Seaway navigation opened April 3 with the arrival of the Canadian-flagged Maritime Trader (at left) The vessel proceeded to Duluth’s Cargill facility for about 16,000 tons of spring wheat destined for Quebec.  Photo at left: Captain Jim Perkins from Canada accepts an award from Port Authority Board President Bill Kron at a welcoming ceremony. 
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.