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noozer:
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080504/NEWS11/805040338/-1/NEWS
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Article published May 4, 2008

City could benefit if shipping project sails in Nova Scotia
Inland distribution points possible
By DAVID PATCH
BLADE STAFF WRITER


A proposed container port on the Nova Scotia coast could hold a key to Toledo's future as a potential ocean-container distribution center.

Representatives of Melford International Terminal Inc., a Canadian company that has obtained 315 waterfront acres along the Strait of Canso, met last week with Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland to outline their proposal for a deepwater container port that is intended to capitalize on North America's growing trade with Asia, which is resulting in congestion at existing ports on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

noozer:
Given the rapid grwoth of container freight, this could have a significant impact on rail & sea traffic at Toledo.  Conceivably, it could also have an impact on the Port of Cleveland as well and the possible movement of the Port to the E. 55th street area.

BTW:  TO give you an idea of how big of a deal container shipping has become, take a look at these two photos.  The first is the sea-to-rail container yard at the Port of Los Angeles and the second is a pretty typical container ship. Some of these vessels are among the largest ships afloat.

C-Dawg:
I would love to "sea" this happening, and I'm sure the Toledo Port Authority would too.

audidave:
Looking over the websites of this superport it looks pretty impressive.  The best thing is that this is a 2 way street of container shipping.  Companies could use this superport as a stockpile for what needs to be shipped in the winter to get through the winter months.  I'm sure local companies would pay far cheaper taxes for maintaining those inventories in Canada. The rustbelt being the manufacturer that it is should readily be able to take advantage of dropping shipping charges from not paying multiple truck drivers in tandem with the devaluation of the dollar.  This region also has historically grown fastest when there was shipping on the great lakes to the coast from the opening of the Ohio and Erie canal to the St. Lawrence Seaway.  By decreasing the cost of shipping to Europe, it opens up the options for more companies in the area that never would've considered sending product to Europe-say Ohio wineries, breweries, and many more manufacturers.

jonmoxon:
An excellent idea whose time has come. One question, how much acreage would be required for this facility and whereabouts in Toledo would such a facility be likely; the current port at the mouth of the river or somewhere else upriver?
This proposal, along with the one for Cleveland just intrigues the hell out of me.

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