Around the Port

Clure Terminal serves as ‘valley of the lakers'

USS Great Lake Fleet Inc.'s Edgar B. Speer and Edwin H. Gott, American Steamship Co.'s Indiana Harbor and Interlake Steamship Co.'s Paul R. Tregurtha created a "valley of the lakers" at the Clure Public Marine Terminal over the winter. Off-season repair and renovation projects have a significant impact on the regional economy.

Nothing, however, stood in the way of the vessels' timely departure for a March 25 Soo Locks opening, with the ice-free conditions provided by El Ni-o. Interlake traffic actually started on March 20.

According to Glen Nekvasil of Lake Carriers' Association, shipping on the Great Lakes saw its fastest start in more than 20 years. "We got an incredible start," he said. "I've been here 21 years, and we've never had so many boats active so early."

Lake Carriers' represents U.S.-flag carriers. Of the 70 operational vessels in the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, 57 were operating by April 1, up 14 from the previous year.