PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Duluth-Superior
Pilot
updated May 2010Pilotage is compulsory for foreign flag vessels. The Western Great Lakes Pilots Association, whose main office is in Superior, provides pilotage in Lakes Huron, Michigan and Superior.
Key data
updated Apr 2019Size limits
Draught 8.7m, LOA 336m, beam 32.01m, 96,000DWT.
Water density
1000.
Tides
Range nil.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Husky Energy - Duluth Marine Terminal | — | — | 1 |
| Gavilon Grain - Connors Point Terminal | 8.80 m | 200 m | 1 |
| MERC (Superior Midwest Energy Terminal) | 8.80 m | 336 m | 1 |
| Allouez Taconite Facility | 8.70 m | 310 m | 1 |
| Northshore Mining Company (Silver Bay) | 8.70 m | 309 m | 1 |
| General Mills - Duluth Elevator A | — | 223 m | 1 |
| Hansen-Mueller - Superior Elevators | 8.50 m | 305 m | 1 |
| Graymont Superior Lime | 8.40 m | 252 m | 2 |
| Two Harbors Terminal | 8.40 m | 306 m | 4 |
| Duluth Lake Port | — | — | 1 |
| CHS Terminal | 8.20 m | 215 m | 2 |
| Duluth Storage | 8.20 m | 223 m | 2 |
| General Mills - Superior | 8.10 m | 223 m | 1 |
| CN - Duluth Terminal | 8.00 m | 310 m | 4 |
| Hallett Dock Co. | 8.00 m | 246 m | 2 |
All 21 terminals
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azcon Metals | — | — | 1 |
| Holcim (U.S) Inc. | 7.90 m | 200 m | 1 |
| Arthur M. Clure Public Marine Terminal | 7.80 m | 309 m | 4 |
| Compass Minerals | 7.00 m | 223 m | 1 |
| Lafarge North America - Superior | — | 158 m | 1 |
| C. Reiss Terminal | 6.40 m | 246 m | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated May 2021Approach
The lake approach is 9.4m deep, and the channel between the breakwater entrance and the pierheads varies in width from 180m to 335m. The depth of 9.4m at the entrance gradually decreases to 8.2m at the pierheads
Anchorages
Duluth Harbour Basin anchorage area occupies the E portion of the basin and is bounded on the NE and SE by dredging limits of the basin.
The Superior Harbour Basin anchorage area occupies the N portion of the basin. The area at the NW'ly and NE'ly sides of the anchorage area is bounded by the dredging limits of the basin
Restrictions
Duluth Ship Canal Bridge has vertical clearance of 41m.
Duluth /Superior High Bridge has vertical clearance of 37.5m.
Tugs
Three or more Great Lakes Group tugs are available throughout 24hrs and are recommended in bad weather. Minimum 3 hours notice is required.
Mooring
Mooring lines: Uniform thickness throughout, fitted with an eye not less than 2.4m in length and of sufficient strength to check the vessel.
Anchors: Vessels over 110m must have an operational stern anchor. Orange anchor marking buoys of an approved type, fitted with 22m of suitable line, must be secured to all anchors.
Charts and publications
NOAA 14975.
Reporting before arrival
updated Jul 2010ETA and pre-arrival notices
Vessels arriving in first US port: Please see country information.
Communications
VHF: Port: Ch 16.
Documents
Please see country information for details of documentation requirements.
Health
No action initiated unless there is illness onboard.
Ship Sanitation Control Certificates: Please see country information.
Customs and immigration
Immigration: For crew not to be detained onboard, each crew member must have a visa in their passport or Seaman's Book.
Notices and regulations
Coastguard Vessel Inspection: Please see country information.
Inspections
Port State Control here: US Coast Guard.
Foreign ships are examined by the US Coast Guard. File the Advance Notice of Arrival 96 hours ahead (33 CFR 160).
ISPS
ISPS Designated Authority: United States Coast Guard, Office of Compliance. Address: 2100 Second St, SW, Washington DC, 20593, USA. Tel: +1 202 267 2978. Fax: +1 202 267 4858. Email: [email protected]. For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www2.imo.org/ISPSCode.
Port services
updated May 2021Repairs
Available.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available.
Medical
A number of hospitals and medical centres are available.
St. Mary's Medical Centre Tel: +1 218 786 4000.
Transport
Nearest airport: Duluth International, 11km.
Airport facilities: Major airlines represented, Northwest and American.
Nearest railway: Duluth and at Superior.
Working hours
Throughout 24 hours.
About Duluth-Superior
updated May 2021Where it is
Located at the western tip of the Great Lakes.
The port
Duluth, Minnesota and its sister port Superior, Wisconsin, are located at the W end of Lake Superior. The twin ports are important loading points for grain, iron ore and coal. They also handle imported goods and bulk materials for the Minnesota hinterland. Commodities shipped through the port include wheat (spring, durum, white and winter), corn, soybeans, sunflower seeds, canola, beet pulp pellets, barley, rye, oats and peas. Iron ore and coal are the Port's principal interlake cargoes. The leading inbound cargo is limestone. Other bulk cargoes include cement, salt, coke, calcium chloride, potash, bentonite clay, fertilizer and grain byproducts. The region benefits from a foreign trade zone, which is located at the port in the Clure Public Marine Terminal.
A new inter-model container terminal has been completed at the port. With access to Canadian National's rail network, this will give the port an important advantage over the use of truck traffic by road. During Winter months, the Terminal dock area will be used for laying up of vessels.
Latterly, the amount of coal handled by the port is in decline but an increase in cargoes relating to renewable energy such as wind turbines and components, is increasing.
Traffic
Approx. 23,500,000t of cargo (including approx. 4,900,000t of coal, 13,900,000t of iron ore and 1,300,000t of grain) and 600 vessels are handled annually by the port.
Questions about Duluth-Superior
What are the pilot arrangements at Duluth-Superior?
Pilotage is compulsory for foreign flag vessels.
What time zone is Duluth-Superior in?
Local time at Duluth-Superior is UTC−6. Clocks go to UTC−5 on 14 Mar 2027. Back to UTC−6 on 7 Nov 2027.
What is the maximum draft at Duluth-Superior?
The deepest berth listed is at Gavilon Grain - Connors Point Terminal: 8.80 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Duluth-Superior?
1000.
Who carries out Port State Control at Duluth-Superior?
Port State Control at Duluth-Superior: US Coast Guard.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Duluth-Superior?
The UN/LOCODE of Duluth-Superior is USDLH.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Duluth-Superior say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.
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A planning aid, not for navigation. These facts come from public sources and each section shows how old it is. Check with the port, your agent, your ENCs and official publications. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.