Shipping

$19 Million in Federal Infrastructure Funding Awarded to Port of Duluth-Superior

It's one of the first grants to go out for ports as part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs act enacted in November.

DULUTH, Minn.- Millions of federal dollars are now going toward shoring up and improving the infrastructure of the Port of Duluth-Superior. It’s one of the first grants to go out for ports as part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs act enacted in November. The act awards $19 million the Senator says to ensure the biggest port on all…

Shipping Industry Rebounding after Rough 2020 Year

This year, shipping is now making a comeback and iron ore is leading the resurgence.

DULUTH, Minn. — The shipping industry is picking up after a rough 2020. With the total tonnage received last year being the lowest the Port Authority has seen since 1983. This year, shipping is now making a comeback and iron ore is leading the resurgence. So far there have been 2.3 million short tons going through the Twin Ports in…

Port Authority: Suez Canal Blockage Shouldn’t Have Big Impact on Twin Ports Shipping

Officials say the incident may have a small impact here and is much to blame for container shortages and delays of other shipments across the country.

DULUTH, Minn.- Officials with the Duluth Seaway Port Authority say they’re not expecting much of an impact in the twin ports after the Suez Canal got blocked by a ship for almost a week. The ship called “Ever Given” was dislodged Monday. Port Authority officials say vessels that come through Duluth-Superior don’t typically use the Suez. But they do use…

Report: Iron Ore Trade Up Two Percent in May

Shipments of Iron Ore from U.S. Great Lakes Ports Increased Two Percent in May Compared to 2018

CLEVELAND – A new report released by the Lake Carriers’ Association shows shipments of iron ore from U.S. Great Lakes ports totaled six million tons in May, an increase of nearly two percent compared to a year ago. The new data is also four percent above the month’s 5-year average. Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 14.5 million tons, an increase of…

Viking Electric Expands in Duluth

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Thursday for Viking Electric

DULUTH, Minn.- Viking Electric has expanded in Duluth. Thursday they hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at a new facility in Duluth’s West end. Since 1993, Viking Electric has been in the same building. Today, they said hello to their new state of the arch building. The warehouse is a two-story, 36,692 square foot facility with the first floor more than…

Portion of Shipping Docks Being Restored in Superior

The project began in mid-May and is expected to wrap up near the end of August.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- A shipping wall in Superior built back in the 1940’s is now being rehabilitated thanks to an over one million dollar grant. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Harbor Assistance Grant Program is helping to rebuild nearly 3/4 of Terminal 41 in Superior. Around 600 feet of the East dock terminal is being replaced. “To shore that up and…

Northland Uncovered: Shipping History in the Twin Ports

A look at the Start of Shipping in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. – It’s hard to imagine Duluth and Superior without shipping, but at one time we didn’t have the Aerial Lift Bridge with thousand foot ships moving underneath. “Really the history of the Port of Duluth-Superior is reflective of the history of this whole region,” explained Adele Yorde, the Public Relations Director for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. Ships…

All Vessels Prohibited From Entering Port Due to Refinery Fire

Coast Guard Monitoring the Situation

DULUTH, Minn.-The Coast Guard captain of the port has established a safety zone in the Port of Duluth-Superior, Thursday, in response to the Husky Refinery incident to protect personnel and vessels from possible air quality hazards. All vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting, or anchoring within the safety zone. The safety zone includes all waters from buoy gated pair “3”…

Twin Ports Send Off Last Ocean Bound Vessel of Season

The last ocean going vessel is shipping out of the Twin Ports Tuesday night.

DULUTH, Minn.- The Beautrix will be the last ocean going vessel of the season to ship out of the Twin Ports. Tuesday night the Beatrix is loading spring wheat destined for the United Kingdom. So far this year nearly 700 vessels visited the Twin Ports. Northlanders will see plenty more ships coming in, but Beatrix is the last to head out…

Thousands of Ship Documents Archived, Available for Public Research

Northland Uncovered: Fraser Shipping Documents

SUPERIOR, Wis. – The shipping industry is a business impacting the entire Northland. About four years ago, Fraser Shipyards donated thousands of ship drawings dating back to the 1890s to UW-Superior for archiving and research. Now, librarians are finishing up that task. “They’re more works of art than anything else,” Senior Project Assistant Dara Fillmore described of the donated documents….

Superior Once Predicted to be “Next Chicago”

Northland Uncovered: Superior the Boom Town?

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Today, the Twin Ports is a thriving harbor, but years ago the city of Superior was predicted to be the “next Chicago.” Executive Director of the Douglas County Historical Society, Tony Tracy, says the population was once even at 40,000 compared to the nearly 27,000 today. Tracy says the enthusiasm for the city started back in the 1600s….