North Star Port

U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., v i s i t e d t h e D u l u t h S e a w a y Po r t Authority's Clure Public Marine Terminal on Friday, July 24, to announce $5 million in federal funding to refurbish the port's twin 90-ton gantry cranes and upgrade the rail infrastructure that supports them. S t a u b e r j o i n e d Po r t A u t h o r i t y representatives Kevin Beardsley and Jeff Udd to detail the award, which was secured through the Community Project Funding process included in the fiscal year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill. Stauber called the investment a strategic win for the regional economy, noting its benefit extends beyond Duluth to any business across the Midwest that relies on the port to ship goods. Strength and versatility The gantry cranes, manufactured at Clyde Iron Works just three miles from the Clure Terminal, made their debut in 1959 and established Duluth as the Great Lakes' heaviest-lift port. Fully electric and mounted on a 450-foot rail track alongside Berth 1, the twin cranes offer a 130-ton tandem lift capacity and remain capable of handling over-dimensional cargo that newer, container-focused equipment cannot manage. "They were built here to work here, and they were built to last," said Beardsley. "So, in this case, refurbishment is wise asset management, extending the life of proven equipment that performs work no modern substitute could fully replicate." Funding details The $5 million federal award covers half of the estimated $10 million project cost, with the Port Authority pursuing state and local funding to close the remaining gap. The refurbishment will address both the cranes and the associated rail infrastructure to extend service life and maintain operational safety, efficiency and reliability. The Duluth- Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council formally backed the request in 2025, seeking congressionally directed spending matched by up to $5 million in state and local funds. Stauber, along with Democratic Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, championed the request. "Securing MnDOT Port Development Assistance Program (PDAP) funding would be the final piece of the puzzle," said Beardsley. "In combination with the federal appropriations, it would give us the green light to begin. While the bonding bill passed by the Minnesota Legislature in May didn't include PDAP funding, we're continuing to pursue the remaining funding needed to move this important project into implementation." Regional assets The gantry cranes handle breakbulk and heavy-lift cargo that supports manufacturing, mining, agriculture, construction and energy production across northern Minnesota, the Upper Midwest and the North American heartland. The cranes helped deliver an 8 percent increase in breakbulk cargo volume in 2025 compared with the previous year, handling shipments connected to 20 countries on five continents. Their refurbishment would extend the working life of proven equipment at a fraction of the replacement cost, while ensuring the terminal's heavy-lift capacity keeps pace with future cargo demand tied to the Great Lakes- St. Lawrence Seaway System. "These cranes have served the Port of Duluth-Superior and the Great Lakes for more than six decades," said Beardsley. "With this investment, they will continue supporting American manufacturing, project cargo logistics, and economic development for decades to come. The focus now is continuing to pursue the state-level support needed to deliver this win for our region." PORT LOGBOOK 14 | NORTH STAR PORT | SUMMER 2026 Stauber announces $5M for Duluth gantry cranes Securing MnDOT Port Development Assistance Program funding would be the final piece of the puzzle."

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