What Duluth Seaway Port Authority does

The Duluth Seaway Port Authority is an independent public agency created by the Minnesota State Legislature in 1955 that operates the Port of Duluth-Superior — the Great Lakes' largest port by tonnage and one of the top 20 U.S. ports. The port handles approximately 35 million short tons of cargo across roughly 800 vessel visits per year, with iron ore (55% of cargo), grain, coal, limestone, cement, salt, wind energy components, and project cargo forming the commodity mix. Operations span a 49-mile harbor frontage protected by a 9-mile natural breakwater, with the Clure Public Marine Terminal serving as the only breakbulk and general cargo facility in the harbor, operated via the Duluth Cargo Connect partnership with Lake Superior Warehousing. The port is the strategic farthest-inland freshwater seaport at 2,342 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, with Class I rail access to BNSF, CN, CPKC, and Union Pacific, on-dock rail, Foreign Trade Zone No. 51 designation, and twin 90-ton gantry cranes (130-ton tandem capacity) making it the heaviest-lift port on the Great Lakes.

The Port Authority generates organizational revenue through terminal operations, cargo handling services, warehouse leasing (500,000+ sq ft under Duluth Cargo Connect), ground leases on waterfront properties including Clure Terminal, Erie Pier, and the Duluth Airpark industrial park, and trade development services. Customer segments are horizontally distributed across mining/steel (iron ore/taconite loadings — #1 nationally), agricultural exporters (Bartlett-Duluth Storage, General Mills, The Redwood Group-Superior Grain), wind energy OEMs (20-year transshipment leadership), cement/steel manufacturers (CRH US, Ash Grove), and logistics/freight companies. The go-to-market is direct enterprise sales through the Director of Trade and Business Development, supplemented by the North Star Port Magazine (quarterly publication), community events, and partnerships with Visit Duluth and Vista Fleet for tourism. The Port Authority is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners and led by an executive director; recent leadership changes saw Kevin Beardsley promoted to Executive Director in June 2025 and Nate Cavallin hired as CFO in October 2025.

The strategic agenda is anchored by a multi-year capital investment cycle: the $10.5M Berth 10/Berth 11 reconstruction completed March 2025, the 56,000 sq ft East Annex Warehouse opened September 2023, and the $38.3M Duluth Lake Port pier redevelopment funded in part by a record $27.5M MARAD Port Infrastructure Development Program grant in 2026. A Climate Action Plan adopted in June 2024 commits the port to net-zero carbon by 2050, building on consecutive Green Marine certifications (3.38 score in 2025, leading all U.S. Great Lakes ports) and 18 consecutive Pacesetter Awards. Strategic partnerships include Lake Superior Warehousing (Duluth Cargo Connect), Spliethoff (trans-Atlantic liner service), four Class I railroads, Minnesota Power (renewable shore power), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (dredging), and Green Marine. The Port Authority employs approximately 14 people and supports 7,136 port-connected regional jobs contributing $1.3B in annual business revenues and $569M in annual income.

Name

Duluth Seaway Port Authority

Legal name

Duluth Seaway Port Authority

Website

https://duluthport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Duluth Seaway Port Authority is an independent Minnesota public agency operating the Port of Duluth-Superior — the Great Lakes' largest port by tonnage and a top-20 U.S. port — providing multimodal cargo handling, heavy-lift, warehousing, and intermodal services to industrial, agricultural, and energy customers across the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port Terminal Operations

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Port and Harbor Operations (48831), Marine Cargo Handling (48832), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Port Stakeholder Coordination (Terminal, Agents, Customs, Pilots, Tugs) (TLAHAFAJ), Marine Terminals & Cargo Handling Infrastructure (RoRo, Bulk, Container) (IMAFAJAF), Port Equipment Operations (Crane Operators, RTG/RMG, Straddle Carrier Operations) (TLAHALAE)

Keywords

• Maritime cargo handling
• Port terminal operations
• Heavy-lift logistics
• Intermodal freight services
• Foreign trade zone

Headquarters

HQ city

Duluth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Port Operations and Cargo Handling: The port authority generates revenue through operating the Clure Public Marine Terminal, managing waterfront properties, and providing cargo handling, storage, and distribution services through its partnership with Lake Superior Warehousing (Duluth Cargo Connect). Revenue comes from terminal services, berth fees, warehouse leasing, and logistics operations.
2. Property Management: The port authority owns and manages multiple waterfront properties including the Clure Public Marine Terminal, Erie Pier, and an industrial park near the Duluth International Airport, generating revenue through ground leases and property sales.
3. Trade Development Services: Business development and trade facilitation services including connecting companies with maritime transportation, assisting with financing packages, and foreign trade zone eligibility.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Duluth Seaway Port Authority operates the Port of Duluth-Superior as a multimodal maritime shipping hub, providing breakbulk and general cargo handling, heavy-lift and project cargo services, intermodal container operations, and warehouse storage through the Clure Public Marine Terminal and its Duluth Cargo Connect partnership. The port authority also manages waterfront properties, leases industrial sites, and facilitates international trade via Foreign Trade Zone No. 51, serving industrial, agricultural, energy, and manufacturing customers.

Product overview

Duluth Seaway Port Authority operates the Port of Duluth-Superior as a diversified multimodal maritime shipping hub and is not a technology product company. The organization's service portfolio centers on physical port operations and cargo handling: the Clure Public Marine Terminal (the port's only general cargo facility) serves as the core product, operated through the Duluth Cargo Connect partnership which integrates intermodal container services, heavy-lift and project cargo handling, and warehouse storage. The Clure Terminal Expansion pier provides additional berthing and cargo laydown capacity. Supporting services include harbor ship tracking (Harbor Lookout), Great Lakes cruise coordination, and the North Star Port Magazine publication. All offerings are physical port and maritime logistics services rather than software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Duluth Cargo Connect: A full-service partnership between the Duluth Seaway Port Authority (which owns and maintains the Clure Public Marine Terminal assets) and Lake Superior Warehousing (which operates the assets as the Port Authority's agent). Offers seamless cargo handling, storage, distribution and transportation logistics services for breakbulk, wind energy, heavy lift and other project cargoes.
• Clure Public Marine Terminal

Products and services

• Clure Public Marine Terminal The only breakbulk and general cargo maritime freight facility in the Port of Duluth-Superior harbor. Covers 120 acres at the center of the harbor with dock faces on three sides at Seaway depth of 27 feet, six heavy-lift berths, 2,620 linear feet of dock wall, on-dock rail to four Class I railroads, and 650,000+ square feet of warehouse capacity. Operated by Lake Superior Warehousing under the Duluth Cargo Connect partnership for industrial, agricultural, and energy sector customers.
• Duluth Cargo Connect A full-service partnership between the Duluth Seaway Port Authority and Lake Superior Warehousing offering seamless cargo handling, storage, distribution, and transportation logistics services for breakbulk, wind energy, heavy lift, and other project cargoes. Handles containerized imports and exports via high-capacity rail network with direct service to East, West, and Gulf Coast ports and regular trans-Atlantic liner service through Spliethoff.
• Clure Terminal Expansion Pier A 26-acre redevelopment on Rice's Point featuring 26 acres of cargo laydown space, four heavy-lift-capable vessel berths, and on-dock rail service connecting to four Class I railroads. Serves as a key component of the region's multimodal logistics hub for dimensional and heavy-lift cargo handling, including the newly rebuilt Berth 10 and new Berth 11.
• Intermodal Container Services Rail-served, land-based intermodal container hub located at the Clure Public Marine Terminal with connections to East, West, and Gulf Coast ports. Offers full-service container handling, loading, and unloading capabilities for industrial, manufacturing, and freight forwarding customers.
• Harbor Lookout Ship Tracking Live map service for tracking hundreds of ships visiting the Port of Duluth-Superior each season, providing real-time information on vessel arrivals and departures through the harbor for port users and the public.
• Great Lakes Cruises Harbor cruises and multi-day trans-Atlantic expeditions through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System, offered in partnership with Vista Fleet for Duluth-Superior harbor cruises and various cruise operators for longer voyages.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35 million short tons of cargo moved annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Green MarinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Voluntary environmental partnership formed in 2007 by key stakeholders on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System. Port Authority participates annually to continually improve environmental performance across nine categories including emissions, greenhouse gases, and environmental leadership.
• Lake Superior WarehousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperating partnership known as Duluth Cargo Connect - Lake Superior Warehousing operates the Clure Public Marine Terminal assets as the Port Authority's agent. This working partnership offers seamless cargo handling, storage, distribution, and transportation logistics services for breakbulk, wind energy, heavy lift, and other project cargoes.
• U.S. Army Corps of EngineerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration on navigational channel maintenance (dredging approximately 110,000 cubic yards annually) and Erie Pier Processing and Reuse Facility (PRF) for dredged material management.
• BNSF RailwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-dock rail connections at Clure Terminal and BNSF Railway Dock 5 in Superior, WI, providing Class I rail service to East, West, and Gulf Coasts.
• Canadian National Railway (CN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-dock rail connections providing Class I rail service as part of the multimodal logistics hub connecting to East, West, and Gulf Coasts.
• Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-dock rail connections providing Class I rail service as part of the multimodal logistics hub connecting to East, West, and Gulf Coasts.
• Union PacificcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-dock rail connections providing Class I rail service as part of the multimodal logistics hub connecting to East, West, and Gulf Coasts.
• Great Waters Research CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovative collaboration of maritime industry, federal agencies, NGOs, and academia focused on eliminating ship-mediated invasive species in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System through development and installation of effective ballast water treatment systems.
• Visit DuluthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsoring First Ship contests and cruise tourism initiatives to promote Duluth-Superior maritime activities and tourism.
• Vista FleetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for harbor cruises and public excursions. Vista Fleet offers public tours with various amenities and is used for St. Louis River Quest educational programs.
• SpliethoffcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegular trans-Atlantic liner service provider for waterborne import and export of all cargo types, including containers, through Duluth Cargo Connect.
• Lake Superior Marine Museum AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on Gales of November program and other maritime heritage initiatives. Port Authority director participates on the association's board.
• Minnesota Department of TransportationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration with MnDOT for specialized trucking companies, escort drivers, and transportation coordination for project cargo movement.
• Minnesota PowerminorOthersProvides renewable shore power to Clure Terminal, sourcing 50% renewable energy, reducing ship idling and diesel generator operation.
• Harbor Technical Advisory Committee (HTAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuarterly convening of stakeholders including Port Authority to discuss and formulate recommendations on economic and environmental issues relevant to Duluth-Superior harbor, including dredged material management and environmental restoration.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Port of Green Bay (Brown County Port): Brown County Port / Port of Green Bay is a public Great Lakes port operating breakbulk and bulk terminal facilities; comparable in size, public-agency status, and Seaway-system exposure.
• Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority: Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority is a public port authority on the Great Lakes focused on bulk and general cargo with similar year-round cargo handling functions; comparable in scale, governance (state-created public agency), and Seaway-dependent operating model.
• Port of Toledo (Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority): Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority operates Port of Toledo on Lake Erie, handling coal, grain, and general cargo; comparable Great Lakes public-authority peer with multimodal terminal operations and similar industrial commodity mix.
• Indiana Port Commission / Ports of Indiana: Ports of Indiana operates three public multimodal port facilities on the Ohio River system, combining general cargo handling, bulk commodity logistics, and on-dock rail. Comparable as a state-authority port operator competing for Midwest bulk and heavy-lift cargoes overlapping with Duluth-Superior's industrial customer base.
• Port of Cleveland (Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority): Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority operates a Great Lakes general cargo terminal serving breakbulk, bulk, and project cargo with on-dock rail; structurally comparable to Duluth Cargo Connect in facility footprint, four-season Seaway exposure, and public-authority governance model.

Others

• Splitsber / Spliethoff Group: Spliethoff is the regular trans-Atlantic liner service provider into Duluth Cargo Connect. Comparable as a shipping-line partner that brings ocean-going carriers through the Seaway, directly responsible for growing Duluth-Superior's containerized import/export flows.
• Lake Superior Warehousing (Duluth Cargo Connect operating partner): Lake Superior Warehousing is the actual operational agent running Clure Public Marine Terminal assets under the Duluth Cargo Connect partnership; included as the on-site operator counterpart whose performance materially determines port throughput and cargo handling economics.

Regional players

• Buffalo-Niagara Waterkeeper / Port of Buffalo (Gateway Harbor): The Port of Buffalo area sits at the eastern end of the Great Lakes-Seaway system and handles residual bulk cargoes; comparable as a regional Great Lakes public port with intermodal and barge operations relevant to Duluth-Superior's broader Seaway ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/duluth-seaway-port-authority

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Duluth Seaway Port Authority