The Ocean7 Ranger brought equipment for improvements to U.S. Steel's Gary Works as the first ocean vessel of the season to dock at Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor.
Per tradition, Port Director Ryan McCoy presented the Ports of Indiana “Steel Stein” to boat Capt. Ilia Kalachov.
The arrival of the Ocean7 Ranger also marked the shortest closure of the St. Lawrence Seaway for winter, only 69 days.
“Our port operates year-round, handling barge, rail and truck shipments, but the arrival of the year’s first ocean vessel is a signature moment,” McCoy said in a press release. “It represents Burns Harbor’s connection to the world and new global trade opportunities for local companies.”
McCoy also said the short winter closure wasn't by accident.
“Adding new icebreakers and practical technologies to extend the shipping window for vessels like the Ocean7 Ranger will allow our Great Lakes economy to better compete in global markets,” he said.
The Ocean7 Ranger's voyage took 52 days after leaving Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The ship carried a 63-ton dewatering drum. A barge will take it from the dock across the lake to the Gary plant.
The Ranger is a general cargo vessel. Volharding Shipyards built it in 2005 in the Netherlands. It is 441 feet long and 72 feet wide. It can carry 10,508 metric tons of goods.
The St. Lawrence Seaway was closed from Jan. 12 through March 22, which marked its 68th international season of shipments.
