Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1543157
4 | NORTH STAR PORT | WINTER 2026 PHOTOS / Sco Bjorkland, Adam Bjornberg, Kathleen Wolleat, David Schauer new trade opportunities for Duluth- Superior. We're excited about the emerg- ing possibilities in our region and across the Atlantic, and we're working to make them a reality." ICY EXITS Compounding the season's challenges, arctic cold in mid-December iced water- ways and overwhelmed Coast Guard icebreaking across the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System. The rapid onset of winter impacted both U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard operations, delay- ing icebreaking assistance as crews worked to complete seasonal buoy removal and repair damaged vessels. As a result, freighter traffic slowed through- out the system in December and January as ice accumulated in canals and around anchored ships. The bottleneck proved most severe in the Montreal-Lake Ontario section, where up to a dozen oceangoing vessels became trapped between Cape Vincent and Massena, New York, await- ing icebreaking assistance. Tug operators logged over 3,000 man-hours working to clear paths through the South Shore and Beauharnois canals near Montreal, where ice buildup on lock walls required heavy equipment before vessels could enter. The Montreal-Lake Ontario section, originally scheduled to close Jan. 5, officially closed Jan. 12, 2026—the latest closure since the Seaway opened in 1959. The Welland Canal, scheduled to close Jan. 10, officially closed Jan. 13, 2026, completing the lon- gest navigation season on record. "It was definitely a season of chal- lenges and uncertainty," said Beardsley. St. Lawrence Seaway tonnage total nearly unchanged, despite mixed commodity trends Cargo tonnage on the St. Lawrence Seaway held steady in 2025, with 40.8 million short tons moving through the system, up 0.2% from 2024, accord- ing to the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. Gains in grain shipments, which climbed about 9% year over year, offset weaker iron ore and coal volumes. The grain surge reflected strong North American harvests and robust European export demand seeking alternatives to Black Sea supplies. The result marks the Seaway's third consecutive year above 40 million short tons, demonstrating resilience amid shifting trade patterns. Crews load grain for export aboard the Miedwie on Dec. 23, 2025, at Duluth's Ceres/ Riverland Ag terminal. Her cargo helped account for an uptick in grain shipments through the St. Lawrence Seaway during the 2025 navigation season. SEASON SUMMARY "But looking back through the decades, tonnage can fluctuate a lot from year to year, and tonnage isn't the only measure of success in a port. "Duluth- Superior is still a vibrant, strategic, advantageous link in the supply chain. It's an efficient multi- modal hub for cargo movement. That hasn't changed, despite all the market and trade uncertainty in 2025, and we'll keep leveraging those strengths to create success moving forward." Eight vessels are wintering in the Port of Duluth-Superior this offseason, with skilled tradespeople from Fraser Industries performing millions of dollars in maintenance and upgrades. Winter Layups Vessel Dock (City) Burns Harbor Redwood Group Elevator M (Superior) Edward L. Ryerson (not active) Fraser Shipyards (Superior) Honorable James L. Oberstar Fraser Shipyards (Superior) Indiana Harbor Ogdensburg Pier (Superior) John J. Boland Fraser Shipyards (Superior) Lee A. Tregurtha Fraser Shipyards (Superior) Mesabi Miner Fraser Shipyards (Superior) Michipicoten (not active) Fraser Shipyards (Superior) Burns Harbor John J. Boland