 |
All domestic Lakes salt shipments originate at Fairport Harbor (left) or Cleveland. |
In addition to being a major port of call for vessels in the iron ore and coal trades, Toledo is an international port serving the export grain trade. Ships of many flags call on Toledo to load corn, soybeans and wheat for shipment overseas. In a typical year, more than 80 million bushels of grain will be loaded at Maumee River terminals. Canadian vessels and "salties" also load grain in Huron for export overseas.
Cleveland and Fairport Harbor are the sole U.S. salt-shipping ports on the Great Lakes. Although demand varies given the severity of each winter, on average these two ports will load upwards of 1.5 million tons.
|
|
All domestic Lakes salt shipments originate at Fairport Harbor (left) or Cleveland. |
Cleveland and Toledo are major cement-receiving ports. (Cleveland is also home to Medusa Cement's corporate headquarters.) The 1 million tons delivered each year could build a highway connecting Youngstown, Cleveland, Toledo, Cincinnati, and Columbus.
Other cargos delivered via the Great Lakes include sand (Cleveland) and petroleum products (shipped from Toledo; received in Cleveland and Lorain).
The dedication of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959 opened Ohio's Lake Erie ports to ships of all flags. Prior to construction of the Seaway, only very small "canalers" could come to the Lakes from the Atlantic, so overseas trade via the Lakes was insignificant. Today, the salt water trade to and from Ohio is an important segment of Great Lakes shipping - 1.7 million tons. Salt water vessels ("salties") deliver general cargo (primarily steel) to Cleveland and Toledo and depart with midwest grain or Cleveland-made steel. Cleveland has also handled huge stamping presses and other related machinery then used to build or modernize Ford, Chrysler, GM and Honda automobile plants throughout Ohio. Vessels in the general cargo trade are not self-unloaders, so the overseas trade creates hundreds of jobs for longshoremen. Additionally, American harbor pilots come aboard salties and safely direct entering the harbor and "making" the dock.
 back |
 next |