Warm Winter Could Hurt Twin Ports Shipping Season
Posted at: 02/20/2012 11:09 PM
| Updated at: 02/20/2012 11:13 PM
By: Renee Passal
A warmer winter could be causing some problems for the upcoming shipping season in the Twin Ports. There is currently only about five percent ice cover on the Great Lakes.
The shipping industry said this is the lowest amount of ice on the lakes since the 2001-2002 season. Water levels may be affected, because without ice covering the lakes, more water is evaporating.
Adele Yourde with the Duluth Seaway Port Authority said ships may have to start light-loading their cargo, which means less cargo per trip.
"They may have to take 200-500 tons less, depending on which ports going to, salties too. They need to take a look at navigating through St. Mary's River," Yourde said.
The Port Authority said the big lake has been below normal levels for the past two years. Fleet managers will be closely monitoring the dredging of the harbors to make sure their vessels don't have issues.
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