The Cyprus-flagged Isolda, captained by Z. Ksiezopolski, arrived carrying 8,148 metric tons of steel coils from Ijmuiden, Holland. Built in 1999, the 653-foot vessel stopped in Cleveland before coming to the Port of Indiana and next traveled to Milwaukee to discharge its remaining cargo before going to load grain at Thunder Bay, Ontario. The Isolda made four trips to the port last year.
The steel coils were offloaded by port stevedore Federal Marine Terminals for general distribution in the region. About 40 local workers from the International Longshoremen's Association Local 1969 and International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 unloaded the ship.
The Canadian-flagged Algo Marine arrived bringing 27,000 tons of potash from Canada to Frick Services, a fertilizer and dry bulk distribution company located at the port. The self-unloading vessel took about 14 hours to unload.
Every year, from the end of March through December, the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway ' 'the fourth coast of the United States' ' opens its international waterway to ships calling on US and Canadian ports throughout the Great Lakes.
The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor/Portage is a 600-acre port and maritime industrial park located on Lake Michigan just 20 miles from Chicago. The port has 12 ship berths and 25 tenant companies within its boundaries.
The Ports of Indiana operates three ports, including two on the Ohio River in Jeffersonville and Mount Vernon. Overall, Indiana's three-port system handled $1.89 billion of cargo in 2006, including $820 million in total shipments at the Lake Michigan port.
