DULUTH, Minn., U.S.A.—Total waterborne commerce in 1998 through the Port of Duluth-Superior increased four percent over 1997 to a total of nearly 39 million metric tons, the Seaway Port Authority of Duluth said in its year-end tonnage report.

Strong performance in movements of western coal and overseas grain shipments offset slightly reduced iron ore shipments. The five-year average of 37.6 million tons was exceeded by four percent, and it was the second best tonnage year of the past decade.

The highlight of bulk cargo shipments was Midwest Energy Resources Company’s fifth record-breaking year in a row of low-sulfur coal shipments. Its Superior facility moved 14.2 million metric tons, representing 36 percent of the Port’s total waterborne commerce. MERC’s first port coal record—12.2 million metric tons in 1994—broke records dating back more than seven decades, when all of Duluth-Superior’s coal was inbound.

Large volumes of grain moving through the port boosted international commerce, with total international trade of 11.2 million metric tons surpassing 1997’s 9.9 million tons by a strong 14 percent. Bulk grain exports totaled 4.8 million tons, the port’s best grain year since 1983.

Domestic cargoes of 27.7 million tons represented a slight decrease of less than one percent from last year’s figure of 27.8 million tons.

The Port’s three principal cargoes, all primarily outbound, are iron ore, coal and grain. Combined they represented 91 percent of total commerce. Iron ore shipments of 16.3 million metric tons contributed 42 percent. Coal equaled 36 percent with 14.2 million tons and grain movements of 4.8 million tons were 13 percent.

The season’s first commercial vessel arrival was Interlake Steamship Company’s James R. Barker on March 26. Fednav International’s Federal St. Laurent was 1998’s first full Seaway transit, arriving April 6.

The season’s last vessel to transit the Seaway was the Cyprus-flag United which departed on December 17. The last domestic vessel to leave Duluth-Superior was Bethlehem Steel Corp.’s Burns Harbor, departing January 6. USS Great Lakes Fleet, Inc.’s, Edgar B. Speer officially closed the season January 16 with its arrival for winter berthing.

Total vessel arrivals of 1,106 showed an increase of 54 from last year. There were 672 U.S.-flag, 236 Canadian-flag and 198 overseas vessels visiting the Port.

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CONTACT: Ray Skelton, Environmental & Government Affairs Director

Lisa Marciniak, Port Promotion Manager, 218-727-8525