Shipping season begins at Twin Ports
Although there's snow in the forecast, one sure sign of spring is the start to the shipping season in the Twin Ports of Duluth and Superior, Wis.
The first laker — the John G. Munson — made its way through the harbor Monday evening. Three record high temperatures were broken in Duluth this month, but port spokesman Adele Yorde says the shipping season will still have a slow start.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 60 percent of Lake Superior is still covered with ice.
Yorde said the Munson was loaded with 24,000 short tons of iron ore pellets, destined for Gary, Ind.
Nearly 1,000 ships move about 38 million tons of cargo through the Twin Ports each year, including iron ore, coal, grain, limestone and salt.
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