HNF
-In this video you will see the coast guard cutter named Spar begin breaking ice in the Duluth harbor. Next will be the Wisconsin side and then it should be all freed up and ready to go. Shipping season usually starts sometime during the 2nd half of March every year and ends in January the following year.
There are two main types of ships that visit the port regularly. Ninety plus percent of the ship traffic consists of โLakers,โ which are large bulk carriers designed for the Great Lakes. The biggest Lakers are over 1,000 feet long and can carry nearly 70,000 short tons. They are mostly black or โhull redโ and are mostly self-unloaders. Lakers last about 40-50 years and stay in the Great Lakes because they are too big for the St. Lawrence Sea Way.
The second type are called โSalties. โ These ships are often colorful, with various hues, and have cranes on their decks. Salties are up to 740 feet long and can only accept partial loads in the Great Lakes due to their deeper draft. They have shorter lifespans because of the oceanโs salt water. The sailing schedules depend on the weather, economy, and demand for their goods. Stay tuned and donโt forget to sign up for our email updates! ๐ฅฐ
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