A Dozen Lakers Expected to Winter in the Twin Ports

By Peter Passi, Duluth News-Tribune, Minn.

Dec. 21–Come January, one dozen lakers are expected to tie up for the winter in the Twin Ports, injecting several million dollars into the local economy.

Typically, 10 to 13 vessels berth in Duluth or Superior during their off-season, said Jim Sharrow, facilities manager for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.

Lake carriers use winter layup as a time to tackle maintenance and make major repairs to their boats. It’s common for owners to invest $500,000 to $800,000 in a single vessel between January and late March, when another Great Lakes season will begin, weather permitting. The current season will draw to a close Jan. 15 with the scheduled winter closure of the Soo Locks.

Conservatively, fleet operators could be expected to spend $6 million over the next few months on boats tied up in the Twin Ports. But the true total investment will likely be much greater.

The Frontenac, a member of the Canada Steamship Co. fleet, is slated to go into drydock at Fraser Shipyards of Superior in January. And Shipyard Superintendent Gene Walroos said the Ryerson may directly follow the Frontenac into drydock in the spring.

“It should be a pretty busy winter,” said Adolph Ojard, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. He noted that the expense of drydocking a single vessel for work often exceeds $1 million, so Fraser could generate more than $2 million from just two of the 12 lakers that spend winter in the Twin Ports.

Of course, poor weather could change the layup outlook. In 2004, 13 boats were scheduled to spend winter in the Twin Ports, but only 10 of them made it, due to challenging ice conditions.

PETER PASSI covers business and development. He can be reached weekdays at (218) 279-5526 or by e-mail at ppassi@duluthnews.com.

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