December 17, 2009
For Immediate Release
For more information:
Adele Yorde, (218) 724-8525
Duluth, Minn., USA – Despite bitterly cold weather and ice in the St. Lawrence Seaway, the BBC Italy is scheduled to depart Duluth-Superior at approximately 8 p.m. tonight –
Thursday, Dec. 17 – making her the “last saltie of the season” to leave this port.
The Antigua/Barbuda-flag vessel had arrived at Duluth’s Clure Public Marine Terminal on
Sunday morning to discharge wind turbine components (nacelles and hubs) from Denmark and
Spain, after which she moved to berth #1 at Superior’s CHS grain elevator to load nearly 5,800 metric tons of flax bound for Ghent, Belgium.
According to local vessel agent Guthrie Hubner, if the vessel departs on schedule and weather conditions stay favorable, she should arrive at the Welland Canal by midday Dec. 21 and the Montreal-Lake Ontario section of the Seaway two days later – just a week ahead of the
Seaway’s official year-end closing.
Unfortunately, another saltie headed for the Twin Ports – a sister ship, the BBC Spain – was delayed leaving Europe and has been diverted to Texas to discharge her wind cargo as she would have been unable to complete the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway transit before the close of this year’s navigation season.
Several “lakers” will continue hauling bulk cargo on four of the five Great Lakes for the next few weeks as the locks at Sault Ste Marie, Michigan (i.e. “the Soo”) won’t officially close until January 15, 2010. Ten of the U.S.-flag lake carriers are currently scheduled to layup for the winter in Duluth-Superior.
##
NOTE: All arrival and departure times are estimates and may change without notice.