Posted:
April 14, 2011
An ore boat became stuck in sediment on its way to the ArcelorMittal docks last month as it attempted to navigate the Cuyahoga River near Cleveland, Ohio, the Plain Dealer reported.
The grounding is a potent example of the need for dredging throughout the Great Lakes navigational system. Harbors and waterways in the region are clogged with millions of tons of sediment due to years of neglect.
Following a major storm and flooding, sediment in the Cuyahoga River rose to unusually high levels, creating a crisis for the steel plant. Since the grounding of the Interlake ore boat Pathfinder, the company has been forced to "double-handle" ore shipments. Ore must be transferred from ships to trucks or smaller boats, costing the company more than $350,000 since the procedures began.
ArcelorMittal has been working with the Army Corps of Engineers to start dredging the Cuyahoga River earlier than the planned start date of April 22. The plant receives about 4 million tons of iron ore and limestone each year and is a critical source of jobs and tax revenue for the region.
Bottom's up - dredging crisis intensifies on Lakes
An ore boat became stuck in sediment on its way to the ArcelorMittal docks last month as it attempted to navigate the Cuyahoga River near Cleveland, Ohio, the Plain Dealer reported.
The grounding is a potent example of the need for dredging throughout the Great Lakes navigational system. Harbors and waterways in the region are clogged with millions of tons of sediment due to years of neglect.
Following a major storm and flooding, sediment in the Cuyahoga River rose to unusually high levels, creating a crisis for the steel plant. Since the grounding of the Interlake ore boat Pathfinder, the company has been forced to "double-handle" ore shipments. Ore must be transferred from ships to trucks or smaller boats, costing the company more than $350,000 since the procedures began.
ArcelorMittal has been working with the Army Corps of Engineers to start dredging the Cuyahoga River earlier than the planned start date of April 22. The plant receives about 4 million tons of iron ore and limestone each year and is a critical source of jobs and tax revenue for the region.