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Cleveland Harbor News

15 Mar 2022

Cleveland Harbor Dredging Contract Awarded

(Photo: Jess Levenson / U.S. Army)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Buffalo District awarded a $5.98 million contract to Michigan-based Walsh Service Solutions on March 10 to conduct dredging of the federal navigation channel in Cleveland Harbor.Dredging, which is scheduled to take place during two seasonal periods, from May to July and October through December, will ensure accessible depths for large vessels and the continued flow of commodities across the Great Lakes.A total of approximately 250,000 cubic yards of material is contracted to be mechanically dredged from the bed of the harbor between the two periods.

15 Aug 2018

Strong July Across Great Lakes Gets Seaway Tonnage

Photo:Chamber of Marine Commerce

Great Lakes-St. Lawrence shipping continues to bounce back after a slow start. With strong tonnage numbers in July, particularly shipments of U.S. grain, liquid bulk and project cargo, the 2018 shipping season is right on par with the healthy statistics posted last year.Overall cargo shipments on the St. Lawrence Seaway between March 29 and July 31 totaled 16.5 million metric tons. Areas of strength included U.S. grain shipments totaling 888,000 metric tons, up 32 percent over last year. Liquid bulk shipments totaled 2.3 million metric tons, an increase of 25 percent.

26 Jul 2018

INSIGHTS: William D. Friedman

Port of Cleveland President & CEO and newly elected Board Chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities William Friedman weighs in this month on the Port of Cleveland and its role in the all important Great Lakes trades.When the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) announced the election of Port of Cleveland President and CEO, William D. Friedman, to serve as chairman for the 2018-19 year, beginning this October, it was perhaps a conscious decision to tap someone who has a broad range of experience and skills in myriad ports, large and small. That’s Friedman in a nutshell. AAPA represents 140 of the leading maritime port authorities in this hemisphere. If you’ve seen one port; well, you’ve seen one port.

08 May 2018

Great Lakes/Seaway Iron Ore Trade Behind 2017

Š Paul Lemke / Adobe Stock

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway totaled 5.5 million tons in April, a decrease of 6.3 percent compared to a year ago but nearly 15 percent ahead of the month’s five-year average, the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) reported.Shipments from U.S. Great Lakes ports in April were down 4.5 percent at 5.1 million tons, LCA said. The mine that shipped through Escanaba, Mich. has been permanently idled, meaning all the iron ore shipped to U.S. steel mills in April had to transit the Poe Lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

27 Oct 2015

Mariner Medevaced from Tug near Cleveland

A 51-year-old man has been medevaced from a tug in Cleveland's Inner Harbor near Whiskey Island, late Monday afternoon, the U.S. Coast Guard reported. At around 4:30 p.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Buffalo, N.Y., received a report from the tug that the crew member was not breathing and had no pulse. Sector Buffalo directed immediate launch of the ready crew from Coast Guard Station Cleveland Harbor to respond to the critical situation. The crew quickly arrived on scene, transferred the man to a 45-foot response boat where they began defibrillation, and administered CPR while transiting to awaiting emergency medical services personnel at Edgewater Marina.

28 Apr 2015

New Hires at Great Lakes Towing, Shipyard

Graham Gajewski

The Great Lakes Towing Company & Great Lakes Shipyard announced this week that it has made two new hires. Graham Gajewski has been named naval architect, reporting to Jonathan Leivo, director of engineering, and Patrick Owens has been named operations coordinator, reporting to Lindsay Dew, director of operations and compliance, both working in the Cleveland offices. Gajewski earned his Bachelor of Engineering – Naval Architecture at the State University of New York Maritime College and is a licensed USCG Unlimited Tonnage Third Mate.

08 Apr 2015

Ohio Sues Army Corps over Cleveland Harbor dredging

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's office filed suit Tuesday against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its plan either to place dredge material from Cleveland Harbor in Lake Erie or refrain from dredging the entire navigation channel unless a non-federal partner pays to place it in confined disposal facilities. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Cleveland, alleges that the Corps -- which has already agreed to help dredge and dispose of sediment for five miles of the six-mile channel -- is violating federal law by asking that a "non-federal partner" pay more than $1.4 million to dispose of 180,000 cubic yards worth of sediment from the channel's sixth mile.

25 Sep 2014

Intermodal Short Sea Barge Operation Completed

The Great Lakes Towing Company completed an Intermodal Short Sea barge move utilizing the Port of Cleveland’s Rail Loop and the Port’s switching line, Cleveland Harbor Belt Railroad. Norfolk & Southern interchanged the rail car carrying the 114 metric ton transformer to Cleveland Harbor Belt Railroad to bring the railcar via the loop to the dock-face under the Port’s heavy lift crane. The cargo was transferred to a barge and was towed by the Tug OHIO to Marysville, Michigan for delivery to DTE Energy Electric Company (formerly The Detroit Edison Company).

10 Apr 2014

Ice Blockade Halves March Lakes Shipping

Ice formations, the likes of which have not been seen in decades, severely limited cargo movement in U.S.-flag vessels on the Great Lakes in March. Shipments of iron ore, coal and cement in “lakers” totaled 980,000 tons, a decrease of 55 percent compared to a year ago. Some of the cargo that was loaded in March was not delivered until April 7 or later. Iron ore cargos totaled 827,000 tons, a decrease of 47 percent compared to a year ago. Most of the ore was loaded at Escanaba, Michigan, or shuttled within Cleveland Harbor.

07 Apr 2014

Port of Cleveland’s Express Service Underway

Photo: Spliethoff Group

With the departure of the vessel Fortunagracht out of Antwerp, Belgium over the weekend, the Cleveland-Europe Express service between the Cleveland Harbor and Europe via the Saint Lawrence Seaway has officially launched. The vessel is loaded with breakbulk and containerized cargo and is set to dock in Cleveland around April 17. The Cleveland-Europe Express is the only regular, scheduled international container and noncontainerized cargo service on the Great Lakes. The Port of Cleveland and Dutch company The Spliethoff Group entered into an agreement in November 2013 to begin the service.

14 Mar 2014

Port of Cleveland Urges USACE to Start Dredging

Arrival Cleveland: Image courtesy of Port of  Cleveland

To avoid significant financial losses to the port and local economy, dredging the Cuyahoga River and Cleveland Harbor must start without delay considered the Port Board at its March 2014 meeting. Accordingly they directed the  Port’s management to work with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to ensure the timely start and completion of dredging necessary for the 2014 shipping season utilizing existing confined facilities for disposal of the [dredged] material. The Board also asked that…

25 Oct 2013

Port of Cleveland Plans 2014 Europe Express Service

Ship entering: Photo courtesy of Port of Cleveland

The Cleveland-Europe Express Ocean Freight Service will be the only scheduled international container service on the Great Lakes when it kicks off in April 2014. “Currently, local manufacturers use East Coast ports to ship goods to Europe, incurring additional rail and truck costs along the way,” said Will Friedman, president & CEO of the Port of Cleveland. The service will be the fastest and greenest route between Europe and North America’s heartland, allowing regional companies to ship their goods up to four days faster than using water, rail, and truck routes via the U.S. East Coast ports.

24 Sep 2013

Latest DofD Navy Contracts

Great Lakes Dock and Materials LLC, Muskegon, Mich., has been awarded a firm-fixed-price, non-option eligible, non-multi-year US ACE contract for $7,461,751 for the repair of 0.5 miles of breakwater at Cleveland Harbor. FLIR Systems Inc., Billerica, Mass., has been awarded a $49,852,526 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract on Sept. 19, 2013, for the Patrol Boat Electro-Optics System (PB-EOS) for the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy. The primary mission of the PB-EOS is to provide enhanced visual imagery to augment existing electronic sensors. Use of the PB-EOS will enhance the following: low visibility and night navigation…

09 Jul 2013

Cleveland Port Authority Place Levy Renewal on November Ballot

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority’s Board of Directors voted unanimously today to place a levy renewal on the November countywide ballot. “The Port plays a unique and essential role in our region,” said Port Chair Marc Krantz “We are the only local government agency whose sole responsibility is to spur job creation and economic vitality in Cuyahoga County. Proceeds from the renewal of the Port Authority’s levy will be used to sustain and advance strategic initiatives that are essential to protecting and growing the nearly 18,000 jobs and $1.8 billion in annual economic activity that depend on Cleveland Harbor. Renewing the Port Authority levy will not increase taxes…

06 Mar 2013

First U.S.-Flag "Lakers" Back In Service; 52 More To Follow

When the cement carrier ST. MARYS CHALLENGER gets underway in April, it will mark the vessel's 107th year of service. (Photo: Rod Burdick)

The 2013 Great Lakes shipping season began on March 2 with the sailing of the tug/barge unit Prentiss Brown/St. Mary’s Conquest. The vessel, operated by Port City Marine Services, departed its winter lay-up berth in Milwaukee and sailed for Charlevoix, Michigan, where it loaded 9,200 tons of cement for delivery to Chicago. Next to get underway was the tug/barge unit Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder. The vessel, one of 10 operated by The Interlake Steamship Company, loaded about 13,000 tons of iron ore at Cleveland Bulk Terminal in Cleveland…

15 Oct 2012

Cleveland to Commission Two Cleanup Workboats

sister vessels – Flotsam & Jetsam – will work in tandem to collect and remove floating debris.

Port of Cleveland formally launching work boats for Cleveland Harbor cleanup; Two vessels to remove floating debris from river and downtown lakefront as part of Port’s environmental stewardship mission. The Port of Cleveland is holding a Commissioning Ceremony for its new custom-made boats and their crews. The sister vessels – Flotsam & Jetsam – will work in tandem to collect and remove floating debris. This debris, which can range from tree limbs to plastic bottles, is more than an eyesore; it can be a problem for commercial and recreational boats as well as wildlife.

11 Oct 2012

Year-to-Date Seaway Shipments ‘steady as she goes’

U.S. ports post positive numbers. For the period March 22 to September 30, year-to-date total cargo shipments were 25.1 million metric tons, virtually flat over the same period in 2011, as reported by the St. Lawrence Seaway. “Cargo tonnage on the Seaway System remained relatively steady for the month of September,” said Rebecca Spruill, Director, Trade Development for the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. “These tonnage numbers reflect historical trading patterns for the month of September, with the noteworthy increase in shipments of windmill components.

20 Dec 2010

USCG Photo: Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Lighthouse

A small break in the clouds overhead allows sunlight to momentarily illuminate the ice-covered Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Lighthouse Dec. 14, 2010. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Jorgensen

All across the Great Lakes, high winds and subzero air temperatures caused waves to crash onto lighthouses and other aids to navigation and freeze, coating the structures and their lights in multiple layers of ice and making it impossible for mariners to see the lights or distinguish the color of the aids.

21 Sep 2011

Port Authority Board Approves Strategic Action Plan

Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority's Stepped up Mission to Foster Job Creation and Economic Vitality. The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority’s Board of Directors approved a new Strategic Plan today focused on growing both the maritime and development finance businesses and tackling critical infrastructure projects on the Cuyahoga River – all with the mission of fostering job creation and economic vitality. “The Board and our community have demonstrated strong support…

14 Jan 2012

NEOTEC Contracts with Cleveland Port Authority

Partnership Creates Regional Foreign-Trade Zone Advantage. The Northeast Ohio Trade & Economic Consortium (NEOTEC) has entered into an agreement with the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority for the administration of Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 40. The Port Authority is grantee of FTZ 40, which includes 10 sites totaling more than 5,600 acres in Cuyahoga, Lorain and Ashtabula counties. NEOTEC, a nonprofit regional economic development organization located in Kent, is grantee of FTZ 181, with 27 sites in 8 counties throughout Northeast Ohio. The agreement brings the combined acreage of both zones to more than 11,000. In addition to streamlining zone administrative duties…

26 Jan 2012

Cleveland’s 2011 Cargo Volume Grew 31 PCT

More growth expected as Port expands rail system in largest construction project in a decade. The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority reported that overall cargo tonnage increased 31 percent in 2011, largely the result of growth in steel, iron-ore and oversized “project” cargo handled by Port facilities. The Port handled 3.4 million tons of cargo last year – the highest volume since 2008. General cargo volume rose 16 percent as both steel and project cargo posted increases; while bulk cargo increased 33 percent, as more iron ore was handled by Port operations.

15 Mar 2012

U.S.-Flag Lakes Fleet Back to Work

The LCA logo (Photo: The Lake Carriers' Association)

Cleveland—The U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet is returning to service to keep industrial America on the mend. The first vessel to get underway was the tug/barge unit DOROTHY ANN/PATHFINDER on March 5. The vessel will spend the month shuttling iron ore within Cleveland Harbor. Next to sail was the cement carrier SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN/INNOVATION. The tug/barge unit left its winter berth in Cleveland on March 7 and sailed to Alpena, Michigan, where it loaded cement to resupply silos in Chicago. The self-propelled laker JOSEPH L.

28 Sep 2012

Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority Launches New Rail Loop

Largest Construction Project in Decade, Improves Service for Shippers. The Port of Cleveland held a ribbon-cutting today to mark the launch of a new rail loop that will provide better and more efficient service at the port, and improve access to markets throughout North America. “We needed to reinvent the way the Port connects shippers to railroads,” said Port CEO Will Friedman. Slightly more than a mile long, the rail loop connects the two sides of the port’s rail system for the first time, allowing cargo to move on either CSX or Norfolk Southern, the two Class 1 railroads that serve the port. The loop doubles the port’s rail capacity and will give more shippers opportunities to use the Port to transport larger volumes to more markets.