Thunder Bay’s strong shipping season
(Posted on 23/01/19)
The final vessel of the shipping season departed the Port of Thunder Bay last week capping off a busy end to another good year at the Lake Superior port. MV Kaministiqua is headed for Windsor with a load of canola from the Canadian prairies.
Kaministiqua was one of 65 vessels to call the port during the final month of the shipping season, besting the tally of 49 from last year. Port facilities demonstrated capability and efficiency in December; the port had its third-best month of the last 20 years with nearly 1.5 million metric tonnes of cargo crossing docks.
Prairie-grown grain accounted for the majority of the total; the large sum of grain exported in December brought the port’s annual grain haul to 7.4 million tonnes, up from 7.3 million the prior season.
Annual shipments of coal and potash from Western Canada were strong as well. Combined, these shipments amounted to 1.13 million tonnes, which is 20% above the five-year average. The potash tally was the second highest of the past decade; only last year was higher.
Movement of other dry bulk and liquid bulk was slower than previous years in the port and accounted for the slight (1%) drop in the port’s overall cargo tonnage from 8.82 million tonnes in 2017 to 8.74 million tonnes in 2018.
The port’s general cargo facility handled a diverse slate of dimensional cargoes in 2018, ranging from structural steel and rail to windmills to modular buildings. The terminal’s $15 million dollar reconfiguration project which includes a new rail yard, expanded laydown and doubling the heated storage capacity is underway and is slated for completion in 2020.
Latest News
Rotterdam throughput falls in first nine months of 2025
(Posted on 04/11/25)Total throughput in the port of Rotterdam fell slightly by 2.6% in the third quarter of 2025 compared... Read more
Bayan, Indonesia, reaches 100,000 operating hours
(Posted on 04/11/25)E-Crane Asia has announced a major milestone achieved by Bayan in Indonesia: the company’s three... Read more
Teesport automated weighbridges boost bulk cargo efficiency
(Posted on 27/10/25)PD Ports has successfully introduced fully automated weighbridge systems at Teesport and Hartlepool,... Read more
Mixed picture for Antwerp-Bruges in volatile trade climate
(Posted on 24/10/25)In the first nine months of 2025, Port of Antwerp-Bruges handled 202.6 million tonnes of maritime goods... Read more
NPRC presents strategic course at 90th anniversary assembly
(Posted on 20/10/25)The 90th General Assembly of the inland shipping cooperative NPRC has highlighted the importance of... Read more
Bilbao leads in transparency among Spanish ports
(Posted on 17/10/25)The Bilbao Port Authority has obtained the highest score in the second evaluation of the Mandatory Information... Read more
Embassy reception highlights Hamburg – Czech Republic partnership
(Posted on 14/10/25)The economic and logistical ties between the Czech Republic and Hamburg were brought to the attention... Read more
Italian ports expand capabilities with Liebherr
(Posted on 08/10/25)Liebherr has dispatched four additional mobile harbour cranes to Italy, reaffirming its role in the... Read more
Euroports celebrates 25-year Terminal Rinfuse Venezia concession
(Posted on 08/10/25)Euroports, Europe’s largest port infrastructure operator, has celebrated its new strategic 25-... Read more
PhilaPort acquires 152-acre Mustin Yard
(Posted on 07/10/25)PhilaPort has announced that it has acquired the Mustin Yard Property from Norfolk Southern Corporation... Read more
