THUNDER BAY — With about one month still left in the shipping season, the Port of Thunder Bay is enjoying what port officials are describing as "generational" cargo volumes this year.
"We're expecting a really good finish here," said Chris Heikkinen, CEO of the port authority.
To the end of November, the port has established modern-era records for key cargoes including potash and phosphate fertilizer.
Fertilizer shipments, which are handled inbound at Keefer Terminal, have also contributed to the terminal seeing its highest annual cargo volume in decades.
Potash, shipped from the port's dry bulk terminals, has doubled in tonnage from the same month last year, reaching a level last reported four decades ago.
The Thunder Bay Port Authority also reported Monday that grain volumes in November held strong in the wake of significant gains experienced over the previous two months, leaving the year-to-date volume more than 500,000 metric tons higher than the five-year average.
Heikkinen said that, overall, this is shaping up to be the best shipping season in over 25 years.
"It's great to see increases especially in the diversity of the cargoes we're having. Every ton means more work for local people. So it's our objective always to try to increase and diversify the marine cargoes coming through the port. Right now, we're having some success, and that means more dollars for our local economy."
The strong shipping season is reflected, as well, in the number of ships visiting Thunder Bay, with 432 vessels tying up by the end of last month, compared with only 388 a year ago.
According to the latest data provided by the port authority, activity in the port contributes $370 million to the city's economy each year, and is responsible for maintaining about 1,000 jobs.
