THUNDER BAY — After looking out at a mostly inactive harbour since early January, Thunder Bay residents can expect to see shipping activity ramp up very quickly this week.
As early as Monday afternoon, a grain boat that's been docked for the winter at Keefer Terminal may make its way to the Richardson terminal to pick up a cargo.
It's likely that it will head east across Lake Superior by Wednesday.
Harbourmaster Guy Jarvis says a second vessel should be close on its heels.
The locks at Sault Ste. Marie are scheduled to reopen on Thursday.
That will clear the way for a virtual flotilla of incoming boats.
Jarvis said there should be "at least a dozen" arriving by the end of the month.
The Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Samuel Risley is expected in Thunder Bay on Tuesday to help open the ice inside the breakwall, where it is up to two feet thick.
Although a U.S. coast guard cutter did some icebreaking last week, Jarvis said wind has helped to keep the ice contained around elevator turning basins.
He said the Risley will work in those areas and will also assist tugboats in moving grain boats to the elevators.
The 2020 shipping season, which officially ended on Jan. 13, 2021, was the busiest in the port in 23 years.
Led by strong grain shipments, the port handled more than 10 million metric tonnes of cargo for the first time since 1997.
