Great Lakes shipping season making strong finish

by Bob Kelleher, Minnesota Public Radio

Duluth, Minn. — The Great Lakes shipping season is making a strong finish, according to the American Great Lakes Ports Association.

November tonnage through the St. Lawrence Seaway was 28 percent higher than last year's. Shipping through Duluth-Superior was 25 percent higher.

Duluth Seaway Port Director Adolf Ojard said port shipping is rebounding after suffering through the recession.

We're very close. We might be slightly below our five year average, but we've made a significant recovery in 2010, and we're certainly looking forward to the same if not a little bit better in 2011," Ojard said.

For the year, taconite shipping is running 76 percent higher than 2009. Grain and miscellaneous cargoes like wind-generating equipment also showed gains.