Deep cold helps Lake Superior inch closer to a normal level

The north country’s deep cold of the winter of 2007-08 — occasionally bringing lows of 30 below zero Fahrenheit and colder — has helped the level of Lake Superior inch closer to normal.
The big lake (or, as we know it, the Big Lake) dropped a couple of inches in January, but that was an inch less than usual.
The Lake Superior Board of Control reports that Superior was at 10 inches below normal on February 1 — but seven inches above where it was at that time a year ago.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Lake Superior basin received above-normal moisture in January despite one of the driest Januaries on record in Duluth.
Lake Superior set record lows in August and September 2007. Low levels across other Great Lakes have caused vessels that haul iron ore, steel, limestone, coal and grain to lighten their loads to avoid running aground in shallow harbors and waterways.
Glen Nekvasil, vice president of the Lake Carriers Association, says vessels were running an average of 15 percent below capacity last season. That can mean up to 270 tons less cargo per inch of draft.
“It’s not affecting just the ships,” Mr. Nekvasil said. “We move the raw materials that keep everyone going.”

Magazine of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority Winter 2007-2008 Volume 39, Number 4

Duluth Seaway Port Authority 1200 Port Terminal Drive Duluth, MN 55802-2609 USA

Phone: (218) 727-8525 (800) 232-0703 Fax: (218) 727-6888 E-mail: admin@duluthport.com www.duluthport.com

Commissioners
Bill Kron, Duluth, president
Steve Raukar, Hibbing, vice president
Janet E. Nelson, Duluth, secretary
Thomas A. Clure, Duluth, assistant treasurer
Cal Larson, Fergus Falls
Ray Klosowski, Duluth
Lowell Hellervik, Minneapolis

Administration
Executive director: Adolph N. Ojard
Executive assistant: Becky McMillan
Secretary: Anne Mann

Property Development
Industrial and economic development director: Andy McDonough
Facilities manager: Jim Sharrow
Legal counsel: Robert C. Maki, Maki & Overom, Duluth

Maritime Commerce
Trade development director: Ronald L. Johnson

Finance
Chief financial officer: John A. Kubow
Accountant: Lori Yecoshenko
Accounting technician: Shellie Golden

Public Marine Terminal
Operator: Lake Superior Warehousing Co., Inc.
1210 Port Terminal Drive
Duluth, MN USA 55802-2609

Phone: (218) 727-6646
FAX: (218) 727-6649
E-mail LSW2000@aol.com
Website: www.lswci.com

President: Gary Nicholson
General manager: Jonathan Lamb
Warehouse coordinator: Denise M. McDougall
Logistics coordinator: Brian Granholm
Lead stevedore: Tim Rogers
Lead stevedore: Zoran Pedisic
Office assistant: Ruth Delich

On the front:The Mesabi Miner enters the Port for winter layup at Midwest Energy Resources Co.

Mary T. George photo.

On the back: The Edward L. Ryerson, in mood indigo, approaches the Port for winter layup at Fraser Shipyards.
Capt. Tom Mackay photo.

See Page 4 for more on layups and the end of our season. The Federal Hudson takes on grain at CHS No. 1.