Lake Superior in uncharted waters
August 28, 07 by TheFleetIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Source: KARE Channel 11
In mid-summer the lake was flirting with an 80-year-old, all-time record low.
And the shipping industry is feeling the effects like a few other businesses.
Down at the very west end of the lake, in the Duluth-Superior harbor, as a conveyor roars while dumping coal into a boat, they can measure the impact of the falling lake with this very load.
“We’re restricted to about 93 percent of design capacity on this boat due to low water levels,” says Fred Shusterich, President of Superior, Wisconsin-based Midwest Energy Resources.
His company provides coal around the Great Lakes. And on this load, he says, “Four to five thousand fewer tons are going on this vessel.”
Fewer tons keeps boats riding higher. But that requires more trips. And at this business, that limits growth.
Shusterich says, “We have about 2 million tons of excess terminal capacity. I’d like to go out and market that. With the low water the rates are going to be a lot higher, and also the vessels may or may not be available for that business.”
And overall, shipping woes due to low water could give rise to troubles elsewhere.
From the harbor shore, Duluth Seaway Port Authority Executive Director Adolph Ojard says, “If this persists, I think you’re going to see increased rates, freight rates, which will ultimately increase the costs of goods and services.”
