North Star Port

In July, a panel of judges selected North Star Port maga- zine for a 2024 APEX Award of Excellence. The 36th annual Apex Awards program salutes publication excellence nationwide among professional communicators. North Star Port was among the award winners selected from a pool of more than 1,100 entries. Published by the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, North Star Port is designed by Touchpoint Media, printed by JS Print Group and powered by a small team of outstanding writers and port photographers to whom we extend a hearty salute. 16 | NORTH STAR PORT | SUMMER 2024 PHOTO / Kate Ferguson PORT LOGBOOK Port publication earns honors AW A R D S U.K. trade delegation discusses new possibilities in Duluth When the St. Lawrence Seaway opened 65 years ago, the very first oceangoing ship to call at Duluth was a British ship — the Ramon de Larrinaga. Just a few weeks later, another Brit - ish-flagged vessel brought the very first heavy-lift cargo to Duluth's Clure Public Marine Terminal — a pair of 115-ton steel mill housings that sailed from Wales. Duluth- Superior welcomed ocean- going ships from 17 different coun- tries in that inaugural Seaway season, but those flying the British flag far outnumbered every other. The port's trans-Atlantic trade connection with Britain ebbed and flowed through the ensuing decades, but a recent United Kingdom trade delegation visit might help lift the tide again as old allies seek to strengthen their supply chains. Organized by Jan Bauer from the U.K. Consulate in Minneapolis, the late-July tour featured stops in Cleve- land, Duluth and the Twin Cities. I n a d d i t i o n t o B a u e r, t h e B r i t - ish traveling con- tingent included F i r s t S e c r e t a r y of Transportation, U.K. Embassy, Tim Cade and Deputy Consul General John Murphy from the U.K.'s Chicago office. Representing the U.S. federal govern- ment commitment to the effort, Adam Ti n d a l l - S c h l i c ht , a d m i n i s t rato r o f the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, accompa- nied the group. W h i l e i n D u l u t h , d e l e g a t e s m e t with representatives from the Port of Duluth- Superior, local transportation leaders and regional manufacturers to discuss opportunities for increased trade via a green shipping corridor net- work that could help reduce the envi- ronmental footprint of supplying goods to both nations. Representatives from the offices of U.S. Senator Amy Klobu- char, U.S. Senator Tina Smith and Min- nesota Congressman Pete Stauber also participated in the Duluth events. "A U.S. delegation visited the U.K. late last winter, so this was our oppor- tunity to return the favor as hosts," said Deb DeLuca, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. "Both meetings were productive and we're excited about the momentum build- ing around this trade opportunity that would not only benefit our port, but the entire Great Lakes region." The Duluth Seaway Port Authority hosted delegates from the United Kingdom and representatives from throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin on June 24, 2024, for a discussion of new trade possibilities.

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