Swedish cargo ship christens Cleveland’s annual port reopening
The Wagenborg Beatrix delivered 2,500 metric tons of cargo to Cleveland on Monday. The Port of Cleveland has reopened for overseas maritime shipping, with the arrival of the Wagenborg Beatrix from Sweden, laden with 2,500 metric tons of general cargo. The port is connected to overseas markets by the St. Lawrence Seaway, which connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean but closes for winter due to the ice. Will Friedman, president and CEO of the port, said the port expects a strong year in both tonnage and transits. The business generated by the port generates $4.7 billion in economic value each year and supports 22,000 jobs.
Published : a month ago by pkrouse, Peter Krouse, Peter Krouse | [email protected] in Travel
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Port of Cleveland has reopened for overseas maritime shipping.
Jared Magyar, the port’s vice president of operations, greeted Captain Enno Drent of the Wagenborg Beatrix on Monday. The ship arrived from Sweden laden with 2,500 metric tons of general cargo. It’s the port’s first arrival of the international shipping season, which began March 22.
The port is connected to overseas markets by the St. Lawrence Seaway, which connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, but the seaway closes for winter because of the ice that hinders navigation.
“It’s always a good day when we open and can connect Greater Cleveland’s companies to the global market,” said Will Friedman, president and CEO of the port, in a written statement.
Friedman said the port expects a strong year in terms of both tonnage and transits.
The port and the business it supports generates “$4.7 billion in economic value” each year, and supports 22,000 jobs, according to the port. Most of the cargo that that lands on its docks is consumed with 75 miles of the port.
Peter Krouse writes about the environment for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. He can be reached at [email protected].