The Seaway Channel

On the North American continent few scenes are more breathtaking than the St. Lawrence River near the city of Quebec in the summer. One of the few things even more appealing is the same region in autumn. That's one of the reasons why fall cruises from the Port of Quebec have become so much in demand.

The Port of Quebec is highlighting a its fall cruise opportunities which offer a scenic and relatively affordable way to sample Quebec's old-world charm and view the explosion of colors that are part of the unbelievable fall foliage displays along the St. Lawrence River and the Atlantic Coast during the autumn months. Northern "snowbirds" traveling to winter homes in Florida will also find that cruising from Quebec is a much more luxurious and fun way to follow the fun than traveling by plane, train or car. 

Costa Cruises, Holland America Lines, Norwegian Cruise Lines and Princes Cruises are some of the biggest names in the cruise shipping industry and they are all offering departures from the Port of Quebec's cruise terminal to destinations such as Boston, MA; New York, NY; and Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Quebec's fall cruise season is kicked off in early September and features the following sailings:

September 6-Eurodam departs Quebec City for New York

September 26-Eurodam departs Quebec City for Ft. Lauderdale

October 2-Norwegian Spirit  departs Quebec City for Boston

October 3-Crown Princess departs Quebec City for New York

October 3-Costa Atlantica departs Quebec City for New York

October 16-Norwegian Spirit departs Quebec City for Boston

October 23-Crown Princess departs Quebec City for Ft. Lauderdale

October 25-Crown Princess departs Quebec City for Ft. Lauderdale

For more information on these cruise opportunities please contact the cruise lines listed above directly or visit your travel agent.

   

  

The continuing effects of the prolonged U.S. economic downturn hammered the U.S.-Flag Great Lakes fleet again in June dropping cargo volumes to levels not seen in many years. Great Lakes cargo movement in U.S. bottoms totaled only 7.2 million net tons for the month of June, a decrease of 37 percent compared to a year ago.

Not surprisingly, the biggest decrease came in iron ore cargo category. Heavy industry including the steel amanufacturing industry have been particularly hard-hit during this recession and Junes cargo volumes were another indication that the industrial sector has not yet begun to recover in any substantive way. Iron ore cargo loadings totaled only 2.2 million tons, a drop of 57 percent compared to a year ago.

Limestone cargos totaled 1.9 million tons, a decrease of 39 percent. The weakness in the stone trade not only reflects reduced demand for fluxstone from steel mills, but also the paucity of construction projects that drive demand for stone aggregate in the Great Lakes basin.

Only the coal trade even approximated its performance of a year ago. Loadings in U.S. hulls totaled 2.5 million net tons, a decrease of 120,000 tons compared to a year ago. This figure represents roughly two cargos in a 1,000-foot-long Great Lakes vessel. The modest decline in overall U.S. Great Lakes coal shipments is noteworthy especially in light of the fact that shipments of low-sulfur coal from Superior Midwest Energy Terminal on Lake Superior actually increased slightly.

For the year, U.S.-Flag carriage stands at 20.9 million tons, a decrease of 46.6 percent from this same time a year ago.

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. If that's the case, then The Duluth Seaway Port Authority is about to tell a story worth at least 12,000 words because the highest cargo volume port on the Great Lakes is seeking submissions for next year's edition of its highly-regarded and much anticipated wall calendar.

The Duluth Seaway Port Authority is looking for photographs from either professional or amateur photographers who may be interested in submitting up to five photos for consideration on the Duluth Seaway Port Authority 2010 wall calendar. The port produces 10,000 calendars each year, which are distributed to members of the Twin Ports maritime community, the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway maritime industry and customers around the world. The photos chosen will be reproduced to a size of 19" x 14" on a wall calendar that measures 22" x 34". The photographer will be paid for the use of the image selected.

The port authority is looking for captivating images of vessels or vistas that highlight the working port of Duluth-Superior from unique perspectives that almost tell a story in a single frame. It is also requested that the photos submitted be taken within the last couple of years, highlighting the current workings, activities and scenes available in and around the Twin Ports today.

If you are interested in submitting photos for consideration, please send those images on a CD/DVD to: Adele Yorde, Public Relations Manager, Duluth Seaway Port Authority, 1200 Port Terminal Drive Duluth, MN 55802-2609 by Monday, July 27.

Labor leaders across the United States and the Great Lakes are lining up to elect AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka as the labor organization's president when labor groups convene in Pittsburgh, PA in mid-Septmenber. Trumka is the only major candidate in the race for a new president so far and seems to be lining up support among labor leaders and rank and file members alike.

Trumka, a former head of the United Mine Workers (UMW), in the early 1980's has become a trusted lieutenant of current AFL-CIO President John Sweeney in recent years and is the odds-on favorite to replace Sweeney who is now 75 and retiring as president after 14 years at the organization's helm. Trumka, who turns 60 later this month, was the youngest Secreatry-Treasurer in the AFL-CIO's history when he was first elected to the office in 1995. A third-generation coal miner and native of Nemcolin, PA, Trumka began working in the coal mines of Pennsylvania at the age of 19 and now stands on the threshold of the presdient's office at the nation's most powerful labor organization.

In a recent interview Trumka indicated that he expects to have his hands full as AFL-CIO president as high unemployment and squabbling with other labor organizations such as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters have taken center stage in the labor arena in recent times. Trumka indicates that he is prepared to face those challenges and bring greater unity to the labor movement in the future.

"Over the years, I've had a pretty successful record of bringing people together", he says. The strength for workers comes when we have unity of purpose." That's what the AFL-CIO leadership will be hoping for when they convene in Pittsburgh in September.