HÄFEN | PORTS Growth
HÄFEN | PORTS Growth and containers on the Great Lakes For the many ports on the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence seaway is one of the most important lifelines for the border regions in the USA and Canada. Throughput has recently increased, and there is also news in the fleet development Burns Harbour in Indiana saw a good growth in cargo throughput in 2021 © Indiana Ports Quick facts St. Lawrence Seaway Ship types • »Lakers«; built specifically for use within the St. Lawrence Seaway System and locks • »Salties«: ocean-going vessels for overseas trade • Pushed convoys: tug and a specially designed barge • Maximum vessel size • 225.5 m (740 ft.) length • 23.77 m (78 ft.) beam • 8.08 m (26 ft., 6 in.) draught • 30,000 tdw Cargo types • Grain • Projects • Iron ore • Breakbulk • Coal • Liquid bulk The cross-border system is considered a major economic factor; along the 3,700 km route with 15 locks lie numerous economic and industrial areas with a corresponding number of ports. A ship passing from Montreal to Lake Erie crosses the international border 27 times. The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) now announced that more than 38 mill. t. of cargo transited the system during the 2021 navigation season. »Despite another challenging year«, it was said, this was slightly above 2020’s results, namely by 0.99 %. The number of vessel transits rose by 1.61 % to 3,918. Iron ore, steel slabs and other steel products accounted for 10.5 mill. t total, driven by demand from both the automotive and construction industries. Petroleum products and other essential chemical products were up some 5 %, »starting to return to more normal levels«. Such varied cargoes as stone, cement, potash and aluminium were also up. Grain, at 10.6 mill. t., was below 2020’s »exceptional results« due to a smaller crop and drought conditions in both western Canada and the U.S. mid-west. Canadian grain, however, was still tracking at a 5-year average. Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the SLSMC, said: »In spite of the many challenges experienced by the transportation industry this past year, the Seaway was able to maintain its operations and its position as a reliable commercial transportation corridor, ensuring consistent and predictable service for its customers and supporting the Canadian and U.S. economies during this difficult period.« The region accounts for one-quarter of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), one-half of North America’s manufacturing and services industries, and is home to nearly one-quarter of the continent’s population. Huge increase in biggest hub The Port of Duluth-Superior – the biggest hub in the Great Lakes in terms of cargo throughput – has had a special year. Vessel arrivals jumped up more than 16 % compared to 2020. »Rebounding from pandemic-induced lows in 2020, total maritime tonnage climbed to 32.9 mill. t in 2021«, the port announced. The result represented a 27 % season-over-season increase and a 2.3 % improvement over the five-season average. 56 HANSA – International Maritime Journal 03 | 2022
HÄFEN | PORTS FEDNAV & INTERLAKE STEAMSHIP New tonnage for Great Lakes ports © Fednav Two of the most important shipping companies in the Great Lakes are working on their tonnage capacity. Half a year after the commissioning of the latest ice-breaking ship »Arvik I«, Fednav, which is also well known in European waters, entered the newbuilding market again. Ten new seagoing »Lakers« will be built at the Oshima Shipyard (Japan), with the first one to be delivered in mid-2023. Fednav operates a fleet of Lakers, as well as bulkers in Handysize, Supramax and Ultramax classes – a total of 120 ships, some of which also call at German ports such as Brake and Bremen in regular service. Project, breakbulk and MPP cargoes are also transported via the Fednav Atlantic Lakes Line (FAL Line) segment. The newbuildings are described as »super ecolakers« whose carbon dioxide emissions are to be 33 % lower than those of the ships they will replace. Nitrogen oxide emissions are expected to be reduced by 87 %. They will be equipped with the latest technology, including Tier III engines and the ability to burn biofuels. In the meantime the Interlake Steamship Company saw the launch of its new 639-foot »Mark W. Barker« at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. It is described as the first U.S.-flagged Great Lakes freighter to be built on the Great Lakes in nearly 40 years. It is the first new ship constructed for Interlake Steamship since 1981 – expected to be complete and underway in Spring 2022. The self-unloading bulk carrier (28,000 tdw) will transport raw materials such as salt, iron ore, and stone to support manufacturing throughout the Great Lakes region. Interlake Steamship Company, based in Middleburg Heights, Ohio, is the largest privately owned US shipping company on the Great Lakes. The company currently operates a fleet of nine vessels. MM Time to Transform New rail infrastructure, innovative data solutions, moving to 24/7 operations – the Port of Long Beach is working to meet today’s challenges while preparing for tomorrow. We are the Port of Choice. HANSA – International Maritime Journal 03 | 2022 57
