Shipping season to start Saturday morning, lakers are already on the move

Those lakers you love to watch are on the move again.

The Lee A. Tregurtha was the first vessel to leave the Twin Ports, sailing under the Aerial Lift Bridge around 9:30am Thursday.

Meanwhile, the American Mariner was loading ore at the CN docks.

The 2023 shipping season is about to start, with the opening of the Soo Locks on 12:01am on Saturday the 25th.

Shipping and mining leaders are optimistic for the season.

Deb DeLuca, Executive Director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, shared, “It’s going to be a full throttle start to the season.”

The first load out of the Twin Ports is iron ore, being loaded on the American Mariner at the CN docks.

Kristen Vake, Executive Director of the Iron Mining Association, said, “I think a lot of times we think the Iron Range in Duluth are so separate. But the truth is we’re incredibly interconnected, especially when it comes to iron mining and shipping.”

New this year will be regular monthly container shipping service from Spliethoff. That means ships will be coming in from Antwerp each month.

DeLuca called this a big win. “That means ships will be coming on a regular basis, carrying containers and general cargo. It will help with supply chains, and keep that reliability for companies.”

The port is also excited about adding needed warehouse space, and welcoming in cruise ships as well.