The GLMTF's 2007 Annual Meeting will take place in Cleveland on October 25 at the Holiday Inn Select City Center Lakeshore at 1111 Lakeside Avenue.  A buffet lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m., with the meeting beginning at 1 p.m.

The agenda will include a review of progress on the dredging crisis and developing a plan to deal with the ongoing dredging battle.  Other issues to be reviewed include ballast water legislation, the second Poe-sized lock,  and selecting the Great Lakes Legislator of the Year.

 

WRDA Approved by Congress

Both the House and Senate have now approved a final version of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 ( H.R. 1495).  The bill contains key provisions of importance to the Great Lakes maritime industry.  Specifically, the bill would authorize $341 million for construction of a new large lock at Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan at full federal expense.  Further, the legislation directs the Corps of Engineers to stop studying the issue and proceed to construction.  Uncertainty over local cost sharing and cost-benefit ratios have delayed the project since 1986.  The bill also authorizes $134 million for rehabilitation of the Snell and Eisenhower locks on the Seaway.  Many thanks go to House Transportation Committee Chairman, Jim Oberstar (D-MN) for spearheading federal reinvestment in Great Lakes marine infrastructure.

 

Unfortunately, the White House has threatened to veto H.R. 1495 due to its overall cost.  Should this occur, Congress will likely attempt to override the President's veto.

 

Harbor Dredging Funding

The Great Lakes maritime industry is making great progress in its efforts to secure increased funding from Congress to eliminate the $230 million dredging backlog at Great Lakes harbors.  To date, the House has approved its version of the Fiscal Year 2008 Energy & Water Appropriations Bill.  The measure ( H.R. 2641) includes $123.3 million for Great Lakes harbors, compared to the Administration's proposed $93.1 million.  This represents a $30.2 million increase over the amount requested for the Great Lakes in the President's budget.  The majority of these funds are for dredging and disposal activities; $6.5 million is for recreational harbors.

 

The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved its version of the legislation, but the bill (S. 1751) has yet to be considered on the Senate floor.  The Senate version of the legislation contains $110.3 million for the Great Lakes ($100 million for commercial harbors).  This represents a $17.2 million increase over the amount requested for the Great Lakes in the President's budget.

 

 

Pacesetter Awards

 

Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor and Federal Marine Terminals Recognized for Increase in International Tonnage

The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor and its general cargo stevedore, Federal Marine Terminals (FMT) BurnsHarbor, posted a 30 percent increase last season over 2005 tonnage. The terminal received top honors after it had improved international Seaway freight tonnage by 73 percent.

 

In the 2006 navigation season, the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor handled more than a million metric tons of steel imports valued at $584 million.  FMT handled 791,000 tons worth $422 million.  The port handles mostly semi-finished steel coils used extensively in the automobile, manufacturing, and construction industries.

 

"Each shipload of cargo transiting this port and terminal contributes thousands of dollars to the local economy and underscores the importance of international trade in a global economy," said Collister ("Terry") Johnson, Jr., Administrator of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.

 

Accepting the the Seaway's Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award for the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor and FMT Burns Harbor's terminal were Rich Cooper, Executive Director, Port of Indiana and Ian Hirt, General Manager, FMT.

 

Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority & Midwest Terminals of Toledo Earn Honors for Shipments Rise in 2006

The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority (TLCPA) increased international freight tonnage through the St. Lawrence Seaway by almost 25 percent over 2005 with 3.2 metric tons last year. Midwest Terminals of Toledo posted 700,000 tons for a 17 percent improvement earning both the St. Lawrence Seaway's annual tonnage award.

More than two-thirds of the port's cargo transiting Seaway locks last year was grain. Toledo's three grain shippers--Cargill, Archer Daniel Midlands (ADM) Grain Co., and the Andersons--handled 2.1 million tons at the port, a 56 percent increase over 2005. The performance was the staple bulk commodity's finest showing since 1994.

James H. Hartung, President/CEO of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority said, "My experience convinces me that the most effective marketing for the Great Lakes occurs when port authorities and terminal operators work in concert with one another," he said. "Our strategic location, quality facilities and professionalism both on and off the dock convince shippers very quickly that using Toledo is "good business ."

The Pacesetter Award acknowledges those U.S. ports and terminals in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System that have shown increases in international freight tonnage shipped through the waterway over the previous year.

 

Erie Shipbuilding Launches Barges

Dirk VanEnkevort, president of Erie Shipbuilding, says the yard is also building five other 165-foot-long steel-deck barges that should be completed by December, while CEO Ned Smith says negotiations are in the works for several other new construction projects. The Erie Times News quotes VanEnkevort as saying employment could reach 200 by spring 2008.

Donjon Marine Co is buying the $5 million Witte 4003 and is in a joint venture with a New York state company to buy the Sue B and the five steel-deck barges under construction for a total $5.7 million, VanEnkevort said.

Tugboats will tow the completed new buildings to the East Coast via the St. Lawrence Seaway, probably in a week or two.

Erie Shipbuilding's 1,250-foot-long dry dock is the largest on the Great Lakes. Erie Shipbuilding leases the facility from the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority.

All the fourteen businesses along a three mile stretch of waterfront within the Port of Green Bay are getting new dock signs.  The signs, designed to give the Port a more uniform look, will be located along the riverfront side of each terminal operator property and will include the Harbor Prosperity logo and the company logo.

 

Retired Duluth Port Director Davis Helberg has been inducted into the Great Lakes Marine Hall of Fame at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. 

 

Shipping in the News