Port Authority: Closure Of CHS Superior Terminal Is ‘Disappointing Blow’
SUPERIOR, Wis. – “Disappointing blow.” Those are the words from the Duluth Seaway Port Authority about the shutdown of one of the Twin Ports oldest and largest grain shippers.
Employees at the CHS Superior Terminal told FOX 21 they learned they will be out of a job on Sept. 8 in a letter dated July 10.
The grain facility has been operating at 41 Dock since 1936.
CHS describes itself as a “leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States.” CHS exports grain from Superior primarily to customers in Algeria, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, the UK and Venezuela through vessels. The terminal has also loaded and unloaded rail cars year-round for grain shipments in the U.S.
The facility is one of the most visible terminals in the Twin Ports, especially for drivers who cross the Blatnik Bridge.
The facility’s grain capacity is around 18 million bushels, according to the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.
A current employee told FOX 21 around 25 people are being terminated.
CHS released the following statement to FOX 21:
“CHS is focused on driving growth and efficiency for the future and is committed to farmers in northern Minnesota. We remain committed to serving our farmers in the region providing access to global markets. Given shifts in how grain flows through our supply chain, we will be closing our Superior grain terminal by August 31 and reducing our workforce at that location.” — CHS
The director of the Superior Port Division was out of the office Thursday. But the Duluth Seaway Port Authority released the following statement to FOX 21:
“From the Duluth Seaway Port Authority: The CHS decision to cease operations at its Superior terminal is a disappointing blow to the Port of Duluth-Superior and the community as a whole. Most immediately, our thoughts are with the employees who will be affected by this decision.” — DSPA
As for what’s next, the Port Authority will be working with the city of Superior to seek solutions that could lead to a “more positive outcome, and hopefully, continued use of this grain terminal.”
FOX 21
Coast Guard no longer needs this historic U.P. lighthouse
Published: Jul. 09, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
By Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com
HOUGHTON COUNTY, MI – This historic lighthouse on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is available for free.
The lighthouse is approximately 110 feet tall from its base to the top of its octagonal tower. It includes a steel sheet pile caisson foundation with concrete deck, one-story concrete fog signal building, and a 50-foot-tall, steel tower topped with an open-air beacon.
Built in 1920, it continues to be an active navigational aid, guiding ships into the Portage Canal. The USCG will have an easement to maintain the beacon. There has been a lighthouse in this area since 1868.
Visible from both Breaker’s Beach and McLain State Park, the light sits on its own concrete crib, detached from the nearby breakwater pier.
Under the federal disposal program authorized by the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act (NHLPA) of 2000, the lighthouse is available for park, recreational, educational, cultural or historic preservation purposes. Eligible entities – government agencies, nonprofits, and educational and community organizations – can apply for ownership transfer.
The light is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Sheboygan Breakwater Light, located at the north end of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) breakwater at the mouth of the Sheboygan River, in Sheboygan, Wis., is also available for ownership transfer. It is a 55-foot tall, red-painted steel cylindrical tower.Find property details, information on how to apply for ownership, and other details here.
https://disposal.gsa.gov/s/noticetypedetail?type=Lighthouse%20Screening
Since the passing of the Lighthouse Preservation Act, the GSA has transferred ownership of more than 150 lighthouses, with around 80 being given away and another 70 auctioned off, raising more than $10 million.
In 2023, the Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light, which stands sentinel at the other end of the Portage Canal, was sold at auction.
Seaway Monthly Traffic Results June 2025
See Chart in Gallery below.
Tickets On Sale for MHSD Detroit River Cruise
Join members of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit aboard the passenger vessel Diamond Belle for a three-hour cruise from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, September 14, on the Detroit River.
We will do our best to get up close to freighter traffic. Snacks and refreshments will be available on the boat, which leaves from the Cullen Plaza at the foot of Rivard Street (1340 Atwater St.) Detroit.There is parking at Cullen Plaza (which often fills up early) and there is street and garage parking nearby.
Tickets are $28.50 (at the dock $30 cash or check only if space is still available). To buy tickets by mail, send a check, payable to the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to MHSD Cruise, 1020 Iroquois St., Detroit, MI 48214. Late orders will not be mailed; they will be held for you at the dock. To pay by credit or debit card, go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/6672663.
No refunds after September 7. We are limiting the number to 100 passengers so there will be plenty of room to move about the boat. Reserve now!
Marine Historical Society of Detroit
Davie Acquires Finnish Steel Firm to Boost Icebreaker Production
Mike Schuler
July 9, 2025
Canada-based shipbuilder Davie has announced today an agreement to acquire Enersense Offshore Oy, a specialized steel and fabrication operation based in Pori, Finland. The acquisition will make Davie’s Helsinki Shipyard Finland’s only specialized shipbuilder with fully integrated capabilities from design to delivery.
The strategic move significantly enhances Helsinki Shipyard’s ability to build multiple special-purpose vessels simultaneously with market-leading delivery times. The steel production facilities in Mäntyluoto will support shipbuilding projects for both Davie and Helsinki Shipyard in Finland and North America.
“This deal will reinforce our own competitiveness and Finnish shipbuilding as a whole by securing the supply of steel for many critical projects. Most importantly, we’re securing the future of a highly skilled workforce and delivering more stability for customers and partners,” said James Davies, CEO of Davie.
The acquisition is expected to boost employment in both Pori and Helsinki while benefiting the entire Finnish maritime cluster. The transaction remains subject to closing conditions and is expected to be completed during the third quarter of 2025.
“The Enersense Marine and Offshore Unit possesses unique expertise in steel production for the Arctic marine industry, making Helsinki Shipyard an integrated shipbuilder,” said Kim Salmi, CEO of Helsinki Shipyard. “The block production for the first vessel under our Polar Max concept begins as soon as possible.”
Enersense’s team will remain in place under the new ownership.
“We are delighted that, after patiently conducting the strategic assessment over the past year, we have found the best possible home for the Marine and Offshore Unit,” commented Enersense’s CEO Kari Sundbäck. “The unique expertise of our personnel in Mäntyluoto can further flourish with Davie, a significant shipbuilder.”
The acquisition follows Helsinki Shipyard’s March 2025 agreement with the Canadian government to construct the hull of a heavy icebreaker based on the shipyard’s build-ready Polar Max concept. Steel production for the project will begin in Pori as soon as possible, with construction work commencing at Helsinki Shipyard in August.
The move comes amid Davie’s broader expansion, including plans to acquire shipbuilding assets in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas. This expansion aligns with the ICE Pact, a trilateral agreement between the United States, Canada, and Finland established in July 2024, aimed at enhancing polar icebreaker production. The company will be competing in the expansion of the Coast Guard’s Arctic icebreaker fleet. President Trump’s signature “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which he signed on July 4th, provides nearly $9 billion for the expansion of the Coast Guard’s Arctic icebreaker fleet—including $4.3 billion for Polar Security Cutters and $3.5 billion for medium-sized polar icebreakers, also known as Arctic Security Cutters.
Davie acquired Helsinki Shipyard in 2023, gaining significant expertise in icebreaker construction. The Finnish facility has contributed to more than half of the global icebreaker fleet, complementing Davie’s Canadian operations, which have produced over 720 specialized vessels since 1825.
Davie was named the third official partner to Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy in April 2023, joining Irving Shipbuilding Inc. in Nova Scotia and Seaspan Shipyards in Vancouver, British Columbia. Davie’s initial CAD $8.5 billion package of work includes seven heavy icebreakers and two large hybrid-powered ferries.
