Grain Shipments via St. Lawrence Seaway Climb
Canadian grain shipments through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway trade corridor are up 20% in response to continuing world demand for wheat and canola, the latest figures show.Year-to-date shipments of grain (from April 1 to August 31) totaled 5.2 million tonnes, as ships transported Prairie wheat and canola and Ontario wheat and soybeans for both domestic use and for export to markets around the world.The rush of grain, which is carry over from last year’s crops, has helped to offset continuing pandemic-related declines in other key cargoes such as iron ore (down 23%)…
Port of Brownsville Connector Cleared
The South Port Connector Road Project received environmental clearance from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Pharr District Office, advancing the project to the construction phase.The project is part of the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority’s (CCRMA) East Loop Corridor plan. When complete, the South Port Connector Road will span two miles and will connect Ostos Road at the Port of Brownsville with State Highway 4.The project will enhance the port’s intermodal connectivity, further facilitating domestic and international trade throughout the Rio Grande Valley.“The Port of Brownsville is a valuable asset to the Texas economy and a major economic force in the region,” said John Reed, Brownsville Navigation District Chairman.
Detroit Agencies Perform Maritime Security Exercise
Detroit Coast Guard members are participating in a Southeast Michigan Area Maritime Security Committee multi-agency table-top exercise Wednesday at the Detroit Fire Department Regional Training Center. The purpose of this exercise is to test plans and policies of federal, provincial, state and local area agencies in response to a transportation security incident. In accordance with the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program, a table-top exercise is a discussion based exercise. There will not be any resources deployed directly as a result of this exercise. More than 150 participants from 50 agencies are expected to participate in the exercise.
Initial Soo Replacement Lock Contracts Complete
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced the completion of two contracts that initiated construction of the proposed new Poe-sized lock at the Soo Locks, located on the St. Marys River in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. TAB Construction Company of Canton, Ohio, completed the installation of two coffer dam cells at the Soo Locks as the first step in creating a replacement lock at the Soo. The contractor used the $3,184,534 contract to complete construction of a coffer dam at each end of the Sabin Lock to allow for dewatering as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prepares for future construction. The coffer dams were constructed, in simple terms, by driving steel sheet piling, in a circular pattern, into bedrock then filling the cells with stone material.
USCG Terminates Bridge Project Permit
The U.S. Coast Guard issued a letter March 2 to the Detroit International Bridge Company terminating the Coast Guard Bridge Permit application process for the Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project in Detroit, Mich. Termination of the bridge permit application process includes all final agency decisions regarding the National Environmental Policy Act environmental analysis process and the Coast Guard Bridge Permit itself. The Detroit International Bridge Company (DIBC) proposed to construct a six-lane, cable-stayed bridge across the Detroit River, just west of and adjacent to the existing four-lane Ambassador Bridge. Prior to commencing construction, the DIBC must obtain a Coast Guard Bridge Permit because the structure would cross a navigable waterway.
Mexican Ship Caught in U.S. Waters Seized
In a trial run of new law enforcement boats, the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a Mexican ship fishing illegally in federal waters on July 21, officials said. The Coast Guard confiscated the Mexican vessel, which had three Mexican citizens on board. The Coast Guard initially responded to a call from the USCG Cutter Brant for help in pursuit of another target. Two of the station’s new 33-foot safe boats responded. The station received three of the boats in June, but the vessels weren’t ready for missions until recently. The Island station was one of four Coast Guard stations to receive the special law enforcement boats, and two more vessels than other stations because of its proximity to the border. During the trial run, four vessels were spotted in U.S.
