Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority Receives Pacestter Award, Hosts Great Lakes Port Directors
Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 11:16AM 
It will be a busy day at the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority today as the Port Authority hosts a number of its colleagues at the annual summer meeting of the American Great Lakes Ports Association and receives the Seaway Pacesetter Award from U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) Administrator Terry Johnson.
The Seaway Pacesetter Award, created in 1993, recognizes increases in international cargo tonnage at Great Lakes ports and the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority reported strong international tonnage levels during the 2010 navigation season. SLSDC Administrator Terry Johnson will present the award today to the President and CEO of the Port Authority, Paul Toth, during the American Great Lakes Ports Association meeting.
The Port registered nearly 4.8 million metric tons (mt) of cargo during the 2010 navigation season, over 16 percent more than in the 2009 season, earning the port its eleventh Pacesetter award.
“This impressive economic performance highlights the importance of marine transportation to Toledo, the Midwest and the nation,” said Administrator Johnson. “As the port continues its facility improvements and modernization projects, I anticipate that strong traffic numbers will be realized this year as well.”
“The reasons for the increase in tonnage include a rebounding economy resulting in more coal, iron ore, and pig iron moving through the Seaway,” said Toth. “Our cargo volumes are currently outpacing the volume from our last several years. We are fully utilizing our new equipment to handle additional cargo, particularly wind components.”
Last year, the Port of Toledo acquired two mobile harbor cranes to replace their existing World War II-era cranes. The new cranes, which are used to handle bulk and project cargo, are twice as productive and 75 percent more fuel-efficient. The port has also reconstructed and enhanced on-dock rail at Midwest Terminals allowing for more rail cars to be stored on-site and has installed a new rail branch line at the Toledo Shipyard, providing for an intermodal connection with the Norfolk Southern system.