Great Lakes Maritime Task Force Newsletter

August

 2007

In This Issue

Dredging Draws Comments

Wind In, Wind Out

Ballast Ambush

Great Lakes Maritime Task Force

More than 70 shippers, carriers, port authorities, shipyards, vessel pilots, longshore labor, shipboard unions and others are currently members of the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, an organization devoted to promoting all aspects of the Great Lakes shipping industry.

 

Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO Comment on Dredging Policy

The Maritime Trades Department (MDT) recently submitted comments to the EPA on dredging.  Their comments included support of port dredging for the U.S. economy and national defense.  They supported adequate funding of dredging, pointing out that in the past two decades, the dredging projects have been underfunded.  In addition they commented on the crisis that permeates the industry is especially acute in the Great Lakes with vessels forced to sail at less than capacity.

 

GLMTF  and Lake Carriers Provide Comments on National Policy

In a joint letter with the Lake Carriers' Association (LCA), GLMTF has commented on the National Dredging Policy.  The Policy is very positive to start with.  It delares that a "network of ports and harbors is essential to the United States' economy....and national security." It also acknowledge that "dredge material is a resource, and environmentally sound beneficial use of dredged material for projects such as wetland creation, beach nourishment, and development projects must be encouraged."

 

GLMTF and LCA recommended the Policy include a statement that the United States has an obligation to adequately fund dredging of its ports and waterways, and that the funds be drawn from the surplus heavy Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund.  The organizations also encouraged more use of Open Lake disposal and continual evaluation of environmental windows for dredging.  If it is possible to expand the times of year that dredging is allowed, the cost, especially on the Lakes, will be reduced and more dredging can be done each year.

 

Task Force Asks President To Support Second Poe-Sized Lock                 

 

In response to a threatened veto, GLMTF has asked President Bush to sign the Water Resources Development Act of 2007.  In an August 21 letter, the Task Force wrote: "We are writing to urge you not veto H.R. 1495, the Water Resources Development Act of 2007.  The very future of Great Lakes shipping depends on construction of the second Poe-sized lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, authorized by the bill.  Most of the iron ore shipped on the Great Lakes originates at Lake Superior ports.  The largest coal and grain shipping ports are located on Lake Superior.  The cargos those ports load must transit the Soo Locks to reach the end users in the U.S., Canada, and overseas.  If the Poe Lock was incapacitated for even a short period of time, the flow of vital cargos would slow to a trickle.  The U.S.-Flag Great Lakes fleet would essentially have to go to anchor - 70 percent of U.S.-Flag carrying capacity is restricted to the Poe Lock."

 

 

  Editorial Misses the Boat                                                         

 

The Great Lakes Boating Federation has applauded the City of Waukegan's desire to ban commercial vessels from its harbor.  In an editorial in the July/August issue of Great Lakes Boating, the Federation writes: "Whereas the industry that was built up along the shores of the Great Lakes left behind polluted waters and sediment as well as contaminated fish, recreational boating is a sustainable use that minimally impacts public health and the vitality of the ecosystem.  Moreover, the economic realities of globalization have resulted in a sharp decline in heavy industry in the Great Lakes region over the past three decades.  Trends indicate that the rate of loss of the Midwest's industrial base is increasing, not decreasing.  The prospects of economic growth in the tourism and leisure sectors, especially for cities and towns along the coasts of our Great Lakes, far exceed the financial prospects for expanding or even sustaining a dwindling industrial base."

 

  As a further justification of its stand, the Federation estimates recreational boating's economic impact on the Great Lakes is $25 billion per year, or five times that of commercial navigation.

 

The future of Waukegan Harbor is still up in the air.  GLMTF and affected industries are opposed to de-Federalizing the harbor and have communicated that position to Federal, State, and Local politicians. The EPA has cancelled the planned dredging because of the city's demands to limit draft to 10 feet.

 

 

Illinois Approves Water Compact

 

Illinois has become the second Great Lakes state to approve the Great Lakes Compact that virtually bans diversions of water outside the basin.  Minnesota was the first state to endorse the agreement in February.  When all eight Great Lakes states have formally approved the Compact, it must then be ratified by the U.S. Congress.  With population shifts giving arid regions of the country more representatives in Congress the outcome might be in question.

 

Wind In, Wind Out Port of Duluth

 

In a reverse of its traditional trade patterns, the Port of Duluth exported its first ever wind turbine components through the Port Authority-owned Clure Public Marine Terminal.  The Beluga Expectation arrived August 8 with Acciona wind tower sections, nacelles and hubs from Spain.

 

This cargo was unloaded and delivered via truck to the Tatanka wind farm near Ellendale, ND.  The inbound forwarding/logistics was handled by DSV Air & Sea Inc., of Elk Grove Village, IL.  Upon discharge, the Beluga Expectation loaded wind turbine blades manufactured by a major U.S. producer of the specialized blades that will be delivered to the Port of Bilbao, Spain, for various European wind farm projects.  Professional Logistics Group, Inc. has been hired to manage the logistics of the efforts, and Transgroup Worldwide Logistics, Houston, TX, has been selected to handle the forwarding/logistics of this shipment out of Duluth.

 

This is the second export shipment of this type to Spain, with the first blade export being handled in July onboard the Beluga Constitution. Guthrie-Hubner is the local agent, and Lake Superior Warehousing Company, Inc. handled the unloading and reloading of the wind turbine components.

 

"Components for wind energy projects throughout the world are served by a global supply chain which the Port of Duluth is equipped to handle," said Ron Johnson, trade development director for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.

 

"The Port began to handle wind component cargo in 2004, and has seen dramatic growth in the volumes of this type of cargo.  The Port of Duluth is central to both wind turbine component manufacturing and wind farm developments in the U.S. and Canada," said Johnson.

 

Legislative Update

 

Ballast Ambush

 

Critical legislation to establish a uniform system of regulation for ships' ballast water was blocked in the Senate Commerce Committee on August 2.  Acting on behalf of environmental activists, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) challenged the bill (S. 1578) causing committee chairman, Daniel Inouye (D-HI) to pull it from the agenda.  The legislation had been scheduled for a vote that day.

 

The Ballast Water Management Act of 2007 would establish federal requirements for treatment of ships' ballast water by 2015.   The new regulatory program would apply to all ships entering U.S. ports and be administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.   Those vessels operating exclusively within the Great Lakes would be exempted from ballast exchange and treatment requirements .

 

Because it clarifies an increasingly confused regulatory landscape, the legislation is viewed as critical to all aspects of the Great Lakes maritime industry.

 

Absent new legislation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is under a federal court order to begin regulating ballast water (and all vessel discharges) under the provisions of the 1972 Clean Water Act.  The EPA has been given a deadline of September, 2008 to implement a regulatory program.  Should this occur, ALL discharges from ALL vessels will have to be permitted by the EPA and/or state governments.

 

The Great Lakes Maritime Task Force has written letters to Great Lakes legislators and Governors urging them to support S. 1578.  The Senate Commerce Committee is expected to take up the legislation once again in September.

 

 

 

Member Profile

Carmeuse North America (Carmeuse Lime) Carmeuse logo

 

Carmeuse North America is a Belgium owned lime and limestone manufacturer based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1860.  Carmeuse produces up to 7 million tons of lime and 2.7 tons of lime aggregates per year.

 

Carmeuse Lime is dedicated to excellence in providing high quality lime products and lime related technology to multiple industries including steel manufacturing, construction, the power industry, environmental treatments and water treatment.  The company has 14 manufacturing facilities east of the Mississippi River and long the Great Lakes to supply lime throughout 27 states, Ontario and Québec.

 

Dredging is important to the company since it receives 4 million tons of raw material including limestone, coal and petroleum coke via the Great Lakes.  The company has operations in:Blind River, Ontario; Dundas, Ontario; Beachville, Ontario; River Rouge, Michigan; Chicago, Ill.; Gary, Ind.; Maple Grove, Ohio; Millersville, Ohio; Grand River, Ohio; Manitowoc, Wis.; Annville, Pa.; Maysville, Ky.; Black River, Ky.; Saginaw, Ala.; Baton Rouge, La.  

 

 

 

Shipping in the News

Green Bay Press Gazette , July 20, Port officials hopeful after House OKs funding

Business North , July 20, House approves funds to help meet Great Lakes navigation needs

Oshkosh Northwestern , July 21, Area needs more funds for dredging Port Officials say

Science Daily , July 22, Rules to protect Great Lakes from ship-borne organisms are inadequate

Cleveland Plain Dealer , July 23, Hostile stowaways

Cleveland Plain Dealer , July 23, Give us some rule, Congress

Bloomington Pantagraph , July 25, Fishing: Action to curtail Silver Carp imports may be too late

Wall Street Journal , July 26, Target Ships' Ballast Stowaways

Baltimore Sun , July 27, City docker to head International Longshoremen's union

Buffalo News , July 27, Approve Great Lakes Compact

Toronto Star , July 28, Lake Superior warming, shrinking

Cleveland Plain Dealer , July 31, Cleaning ballast water would help Lake Erie fish survive

Toronto Star , July 31, Algoma Central to buy tanker for $42 million

Montreal Gazette , July 31, Ottawa boosts Great Lakes freight corridor

Detroit Free Press , Aug. 1, Congress may lend Great Lakes a hand

Detroit Free Press , Aug. 2, Bush plans veto of Great Lakes projects bill

Ludington Daily News , Aug. 2, Recreation harbor dredging likely to be annual fight

Cleveland Plain Dealer , Aug. 2, Great Lakes projects threatened by Bush veto

Sault Ste. Marie Evening News , Aug. 2, New Soo Lock funded in water bill

San Jose Mercury News , Aug. 3, Lake Superior changes mystify scientists

Business North , Aug. 4, Oberstar's waterways bill wins final house passage

Ironwood Daily Globe , Aug. 4, Ontonagon projects included in Water Resource Development Act

Sault Star , Aug. 7, Super-lock flows closer to reality, but Bush veto looms

Globe and Mail , Aug. 13, What travels to Canada in ocean freighters?

New York Times , Aug. 14, Water Levels in 3 Great Lakes Dip Far Below Normal

Reuters Canada , Aug. 15, Biggest Great Lake seen heading for record lows

Chronicle Herald , Halifax Aug. 15, Great Lakes hole much bigger than thought

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , Aug. 16, Ship ballast law posts victory, in a number of different Great Lakes papers, TV stations and Newsday

NWItimes.com , Aug. 17, Tiny species cause big problems

At least 26 publications carried articles on the shrinking of the Lakes, the 'drain hole' and Lake Superior record levels between August 15 - 21.

 

Editorials

Detroit Free Press , July 20, Great Lakes too precious to allow shippers to pollute, Eric Sharp

Aurora Beacon News , July 22, Law is great, but personal responsibility is better, Bob Maciulis, outdoor columnist

Livingston Daily , July 23, Phil Power Column: Make the most of Great Lakes

Toledo Blade , July 30, New 'battle' for Lake Erie

All America Patriots , Aug. 6, Daily Press, Aug. 20, Clearing the Way for Great Lakes Shipping, Carl Levin, U.S. Senator

Detroit News , Aug. 8, Feds must deal with invasive species in lakes

Kalamazoo Gazette , Aug. 8, Washington must act to aid precious Great Lakes

Detroit Free Press , Aug. 8,Great Lakes deserve fresh funds

Detroit Free Press , Aug. 9, Bills in Congress would hurt Great Lakes, Eric Sharp

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , Aug. 9, Ballast water legislation needed, John Jamian and Steve Fisher

Duluth News Tribune , Aug. 12, Federal solution to ballast water problem would serve industry and environment, Adolph Ojard, Ex. Dir. Duluth Seaway Port Authority

Buffalo News , Aug. 13, Study of water levels unfairly excludes boaters

Muskegon Chronicle , Aug. 14, Keep fighting for a federal ballast bill for our lakes