Market Matters Blog           12/30 09:49

   Last Saltie of Duluth-Superior 2024 Navigation Sets Sail to Algeria

   The Bulk Carrier Vessel Federal Biscay left Duluth Saturday evening, 
becoming the last oceangoing departure of the 2024 Duluth-Superior navigation 
season.

Mary Kennedy
DTN Basis Analyst

   On Saturday, Dec. 28, at approximately 7 p.m. CST, the Marshall 
Islands-flagged Federal Biscay sailed from Duluth, Minnesota, as the Port of 
Duluth-Superior said goodbye to the final oceangoing ship (saltie) of the 2024 
navigation season.

   The Federal Biscay, a dry bulk handysize (smaller bulk carrier) built in 
2015, measures 200 meters in length overall (LOA) and her width (beam) is 23 
meters. Her summer deadweight capacity is 34,564 metric tons.

   "Carrying durum wheat destined for North Africa, the vessel will now 
navigate below-average ice coverage across the Great Lakes, exiting the St. 
Lawrence Seaway System prior to the Montreal-Lake Ontario section's seasonal 
closure on Jan. 5, 2025," said Jayson Hron, director of communication and 
marketing for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, in an email to DTN.

   "The shipment extended a fourth-quarter rally for agricultural commodities 
moving through North America's farthest-inland seaport, boosting grain tonnage 
toward its best total since 2020," Hron said. "Bookending the arrival of Barbro 
G on April 1, the Federal Biscay departure on Dec. 28 concluded a 272-day 
oceangoing navigation season for Duluth-Superior."

   The Federal Biscay should have pretty smooth sailing, given ice coverage on 
the Great Lakes is not an issue right now. According to National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Great Lakes ice coverage as of Dec. 29, 
2024, combined is 2%. Lake Superior has 1% ice coverage, Lake Michigan has 2%, 
Lake Huron has 4%, Lake Erie has 0.1% and Lake Ontario has 2% ice coverage. 
View the maps here: 
https://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/satellite-data-products/glsea-annual-compariso
n/

   "Interlake shipping to and from the Port of Duluth-Superior, which began 
with the laker John J. Boland departure on March 21, will continue through 
mid-January. The Soo Locks' seasonal maintenance closure is scheduled for Jan. 
15, 2025," Hron said.

   In a notice to all shippers on Oct. 15, 2024, the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence 
Seaway noted that Montreal-Lake Ontario Section would close Jan. 5, 2025, and 
"all ships must be clear of the MLO Section by 12:00 on that day." Here is the 
notice, which also includes other closure dates on the Seaway: 
https://greatlakes-seaway.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/notice20241015_en.pdf

   Follow the Federal Biscay as she leaves Duluth on Dec. 28 with her load of 
durum wheat: https://youtu.be/zw_EnahHDZE

   Mary Kennedy can be reached at mary.kennedy@dtn.com

   Follow her on social platform X @MaryCKenn




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