2010 Press Releases News and Events
I-794 onramp at S. Carferry Drive near completion
10-26-10. The Port of Milwaukee's onramp to the interstate has been under construction to expand the radius to 170 feet. As cargoes get longer, wider, higher and heavier, the need to move these cargoes onto the interstate as soon as possible is key to improving safety on the city roads and to keep the port competitive in handling these loads. Construction is on schedule to be completed by November 15, 2010. This ramp will allow long loads of 150 feet or more.
BOARD OF HARBOR COMMISSIONERS APPOINTS NEW HARBOR MASTER 10-14-10
Wayne Johnson receives Board approval to Essential Port Position
Wayne Johnson was appointed Harbor Master by the unanimous vote at today’s Board of Harbor Commissioners (BHC) meeting as recommended by the Board’s Finance Committee.
This unique position dates back to the late-1800’s. Wisconsin Statutes gives th e BHC authority to appoint a Harbor Master for the municipality. Governed by a City Ordinance, the Harbor Master has the authority and jurisdiction in or over the outer and inner harbor and all vessels or other craft moored or navigating within this area. The Harbor Master of Milwaukee also has the authority to compel assistance from other watercraft when in need. The harbor master and crew are first responders in the rescue and recovery efforts.
The Harbor Master has the power to arrest and to call to his aid the police department for the purpose of enforcing City Ordinances relating to violations of safe navigation of vessel traffic. He is also the Port’s Facilities Security Officer for Homeland Security and works closely with the Coast Guard, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Police and Fire Departments U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection, and other first responders.
History has proven that the harbor master’s orders or directions have prevented potential ship casualties. A pending storm may require the Harbor Master to demand a ship leave its berth and anchor in the harbor for safety. The high swells between the outer harbor docks during a storm can make these ships particularly vulnerable.
“Wayne Johnson has been effectively performing all the duties of Harbor Master in an acting capacity for many months and I am proud our Board unanimously agreed he has earned this well-deserved promotion,” commented BHC President Timothy Hoelter. Mr. Johnson had been acting Harbor Master since the sudden passing of previous Harbor Master Joseph DiGiorgio in March 2010. Before that, Mr. Johnson was the Port’s Facilities Supervisor for three years and held various Port and City positions since 1979. Honored by the appointment, Mr Johnson said, “I am glad to be given the opportunity to serve the citizens of Milwaukee.”
2010 Board of Harbor Commissioner Meetings
New Service to Start in 2010
Satalite photo of Lake Michigan taken 1/31/2010, compliments of Marc Kavinsky, NOAA. NWS meteorologist Steve Davis was responsible for the close up picture of the Lake Michigan ice.
On September 7th, the Port of Milwaukee received the vessel Miedwie. She unloaded steel from Europe for local steel manufacturing companies. Built in the Mingde shipyard in Nantong, China, near Shanghai, the Miedwie was launched in March and is the first ship in a series of eight new vessels, ordered by Polsteam USA for Great Lakes/Seaway service.Captained by Tamasz Molenda, the 623-foot, Bahamian-flag 30,000 ton vessel entered the St. Lawrence Seaway at the end of August and has made stops to discharge steel at several ports along the Great Lakes including Cleveland, Indiana-Burns Harbor and Milwaukee en route to the Port of Duluth-Superior. At Gavilon Grain in Superior, the ship will load approximately 20,000 metric tons of durum wheat bound for Italy for pasta-making. Polsteam, the largest Polish shipowner and one of the largest in Europe, operates 75 ships, including 67 bulk carriers, four sulfur carriers and four ferries. The company has announced plans to build 34 new bulk cargo carriers by 2015.