GREEN BAY, WI – It’s projected to be another week before cargo ships can safely navigate the Fox River, meaning it will be almost one month for the Port of Green Bay being closed, costing area businesses millions of dollars.
The tanker Algotitan, from Sarnia, ON, is anchored north of the channel entrance, with the Edenborg and the Erieborg. Eeborg is in the St. Clair River on its way to join them. The latter three are loaded with Finnish wood pulp. Tug/tank barge Albert/Margaret waited for a while last month but then diverted to Milwaukee as did the Amrize cement boats. They are currently on a trip to Montreal until Green Bay can reopen.
Albert-Margaret in the Amherstburg Channel in 2023. [Michael Chase, Windsor Aerial Drone Photography]
“Right now in real time we’re seeing some of the challenges when you have the port not operating as effectively as you’d like,” said Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach.
Winter Storm Elsa in March and last month’s record rainfall are being blamed for high water levels and flow velocity on the Fox River. The conditions have left cargo ships without great options, like the Erieborg of the Netherlands. It’s been anchored in the bay for more than two weeks, waiting for the water to ease
“So there’s a variety of options – they’re all costly,” said Dean Haen, Port of Green Bay Director. “One is to sit and wait. Two is to just not do business in Northeastern Wisconsin or three is to use a different port and either use trucks or trains to get that product into the region.”
Haen estimates 12 to 15 vessel deliveries have been affected, costing port businesses between $15 to $20 million. “The trickle-down effect, I wouldn’t be able to put numbers on that,” said Haen. “But should for instance manufacturing facilities might have raw materials and have to stop production, that number is going to grow significantly.”
Haen says options were considered to at least temporarily ease conditions so ships could safely get in. That included adjusting dams that were opened to alleviate Lake Winnebago water levels. Ultimately, it was decided to just wait it out.
“In the end, none of that proved to be fruitful enough,” said Haen. “The best solution and the solution agreed upon by the port operators was just to keep the gates open and let’s get through it.”
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