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Preparations started for Irishtown Bend bulkhead construction

Preparations started for Irishtown Bend bulkhead construction

The first phase of soil removal is nearly done at the Irishtown Bend Stabilization and Rehabilitation Project, and preparations have started for bulkhead construction. Relocation of utilities is continuing.

Upcoming activities include:

  • Completing the installation and testing of cables in the Cleveland Public Power underground electrical duct bank tunnel to support removal of the current Riverbed Street overhead electrical lines.
  • Completing installation and testing of the relocated 16” Cleveland Water Department line on Franklin Ave.
  • Completing construction of the Franklin Avenue re-alignment grade to serve as a temporary construction access road to the site and allow for removing the existing Franklin Avenue and completing phase one of excavation.
  • Resubmitting bulkhead drawings for engineering approval.
  • Dredging along the face of the proposed bulkhead.

To project webcams have been installed across the river from the site to provide 24/7 viewing of site activities.


Flotsam & Jetsam Vessels Back in the Water

Flotsam & Jetsam Vessels Back in the Water


”School” isn’t winding down for high school students cleaning up debris from Cuyahoga River, Inner Harbor

Cleveland – May 30, 2024 –Course work may be winding down for some high school students, but not for those students who help remove floating debris from the Cuyahoga River and Inner Harbor using a pair of specially designed tandem vessels, Flotsam and Jetsam. Two to three Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School students help with the clean-up three to four days a week after school and throughout the summer.

The Port of Cleveland contracts with Argonaut to captain the vessels and work with students. Argonaut’s mission is to build adventurers through immersive learning experiences that challenge assumptions and shift norms for growing empowered talent in aerospace and maritime fields. Argonaut co-leads the Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

Argonaut is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded by D. Andrew Ferguson and Douglas McConnell. Argonaut’s goal is to engage young people in high-quality educational experiences, and increase the number of youths who enter careers in the fields of maritime and aerospace. The students also help with mechanical, fueling and safety inspections and operations of Flotsam and Jetsam.

The partnership with the high school is growing, and the Port is in the midst of developing the Maritime Learning and Resource Center for the school. “Creating a learning space for these students is the next logical step for this immersive learning experience,” said William Friedman, Port president and CEO.

“What I’m proud of is that the Port of Cleveland had the willingness and desire to give students real world experiences on the water,” said Ferguson of Argonaut. “It’s about empowering the students to give back to their city, their river, their harbor.”

Flotsam & Jetsam take about 300,000 pounds of debris out of the water each season, and also help with special events including River Sweep, Blazing Paddles, rowing regattas and the July 4th boat parade.

Flotsam and jetsam are terms that describe two types of marine debris associated with vessels. Flotsam is defined as debris in the water that was not deliberately thrown overboard, often as a result from a shipwreck or accident. Jetsam describes debris that was deliberately thrown overboard by a crew of a ship in distress, most often to lighten the ship’s load. The word flotsam derives from the French word floter, to float. Jetsam is a shortened word for jettison.
To see Flotsam & Jetsam in action: https://bit.ly/3MyZ01y
CONTACT: Nancy Lesic at 216.392.9634 or email nlesic@lesiccamper.com or Betsy O’Connell, 216.702.4331

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Two Ships Opened Cleveland Cruise Season Memorial Day Weekend

Two Ships Opened Cleveland Cruise Season Memorial Day Weekend

Cleveland – May 28, 2024 – 588 vacationers arrived to explore The Land

Both Viking’s Octantis and Pearl Seas opened the passenger cruising season in Cleveland on May 26. This is the second year that both cruise lines will have multiple calls at the Port of Cleveland.

“Our cruise partners have said the Great Lakes region is booming for tourists because they want to experience the diverse cultures that make this region so unique,” said David S. Gutheil, Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Cleveland. “It’s part of the U.S. that these passengers have not seen before. Cleveland alone has very diverse neighborhoods with deep cultural backgrounds, which help explain it’s growing popularity as a cruise ship destination and helping make tourism a vital part of our local economy.”

Last year, well-known travel adviser “The Points Guy” called Cleveland – yes Cleveland – the hottest new cruise destination in North America.

Great Lakes cruise ships have become an economic engine for Cleveland. Cruise ships started docking in Cleveland in 2017 — there were nine that year — and this year 24 cruise stops are planned and more than 50 are already on the Port’s schedule for the 2025 season.

Estimates report that each cruise passenger in Cleveland spends about $150 — or $1.5 million for 10,000 travelers — and other economic impact includes the salaries of dock workers, tour operators and others.

The Pearl Seas, a 210-passenger ship, is the only cruise ship coming through Cleveland which has full private balconies for every room and is a fully stabilized ship.

Viking’s Octantis can carry up to 378 guests. Viking cruise ships first came to Cleveland in 2023. It made eight stops in Cleveland last year and will make eight calls again this year.

Passenger shore excursions in Greater Cleveland include the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the West Side Market, the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, a walking tour of downtown Cleveland or Little Italy, a hike or biking tour in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a beer tasting at Great Lakes Brewing Company, a culinary tour and an excursion to Amish country in Geauga County.

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Update on Hulett Removal Project

Update on Hulett Removal Project

Cleveland – March 29, 2024 – Despite sincere efforts to enable the potential conservation one of the Hulett Ore Unloaders in its entirety, the Port of Cleveland encountered unforeseen challenges with a proposal aimed at doing so. As a result, the Port has entered into a new contract with Northern Ohio Scrap Service that will allow the port to continue to salvage two of the Huletts most historically significant pieces – an arm and a bucket – while the vendor handles the removal of remaining pieces.

Last week, the Port contracted with Maple Leaf Demolition, selected in part for the company’s intent to reassemble one of the Huletts on its site in Canton. Regrettably, Maple Leaf could not provide the necessary bonding and insurance required.

The new contractor is a Cleveland-based company with significant experience with this type of work.

Dave Gutheil, Chief Commercial Officer for the Port of Cleveland, expressed disappointment at this but reiterated their commitment to the initially envisioned solution of preserving several significant pieces on-site. He underscored the acknowledgment of their importance in Cleveland’s industrial and maritime history, emphasizing the desire to grant preservationists more time to find a suitable display solution.

Additionally, a shunt engine that was part of the Hulett unloading system will be salvaged and publicly displayed at the American Industrial Mining Museum in Brownsville, PA.

The Huletts were taken down in 1999 and two have been stored at the Port’s Cleveland Bulk Terminal since that time. Initially intended for storage for just five years, the Port has withheld actions to remove the pieces for over 24 years in an effort to accommodate preservation efforts.

The Port has agreed to store the pieces for a year to provide more time for preservationists to secure a suitable location for their display and raise funds for their removal.

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The following is a statement from the Port of Cleveland’s President & CEO, William Friedman, on the Baltimore bridge collapse

“The Port of Cleveland extends our deepest condolences to the families of those individuals who may have lost their lives in the tragic bridge accident in the Baltimore Harbor this morning. Our hearts go out to our colleagues and friends at the Baltimore port and in the maritime community as they begin to recover from this catastrophe. We also thank the first responders who routinely put their lives at risk in these emergencies to help others.

Local media have asked the question: could this happen in Cleveland where we also have bridges over shipping channels? Our circumstances differ significantly from Baltimore. The Francis Scott Key bridge had a long span over open water with in-water support piers located on either side of the shipping lane. Our network of bridges is different and varied. Several of the bridges over the Cuyahoga ship channel are lift or swing bridges overseen by capable and trained bridge tenders who communicate with vessels to elevate or swing the bridges to let vessels pass. The fixed bridges over the Cuyahoga have no supporting infrastructure in the water adjacent to the shipping channel, making it unlikely they could be compromised by a vessel. Additionally, all vessels that transit the Cuyahoga Ship Cannel are piloted by highly skilled ship masters who know the waterway extremely well and have transited it many times. They also keep vessel speeds low as appropriate in a much more confined navigation channel.

“The most significant threat to our shipping channel was the risk of a catastrophic landslide into the river at Irishtown Bend. The good news is that the Port has now mitigated that risk with the stabilization work now underway.”

William D. Friedman
President & CEO
Port of Cleveland

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Partner Highlight - OmniTRAX

Partner Highlight - OmniTRAX

The railroad work OmniTRAX does with the Port of Cleveland has increased substantially since 2019, when the company purchased the Cleveland Port Railway.

“We handled a total of about 199 (railroad) car loads in 2023,” said Nate Mazo, General Manager at Cleveland & Cuyahoga Railway, Cleveland Port Railway, Newburgh and South Shore Railroad and Northern Ohio and Western Railway, all part of OmniTRAX. That compares to 75 to 80 car loads prior to COVID. “Any time you are able to double rail traffic at a location, that’s a huge accomplishment.”

Cleveland Port Railway manages all rail switching services at the Port and is an affiliate of OmniTRAX Inc., one of the largest privately held rail-centric transportation and logistics service companies in North America. The Port of Cleveland is one of several Ports OmniTRAX is working at.

Mazo said steel is the primary cargo they work with at the Port of Cleveland, but they have also handled the recent addition of palm oil shipments going to a Lake County-based manufacturer. They occasionally do dimensional — or oversize — shipments, most recently several large transformers heading to a power generating station in Lordstown.

“We have a great relationship with the folks at the Port of Cleveland,’’ he said, noting that they are constantly talking with them about new opportunities and projects.


More than $32+ million for cutting-edge upgrades paving the way for Port modernization and sustainability

More than $32+ million for cutting-edge upgrades paving the way for Port modernization and sustainability

The Port is leveraging $32+ million in state and federal grants to overhaul of a key warehouse and electrical infrastructure at the General Cargo Terminal. This strategic move will ensure ongoing efficiency of Port facilities and prepare the Port for upcoming electrification efforts.

William Friedman, Port president and CEO, said the investments were critical to successful port operations as well as sustainability.

The undertaking is part of a broader investment of $93.8 million in Port infrastructure since 2015, with more than 75% of it covered by state and federal grants. Aligned with the Port’s recently implemented Climate Action Plan, the overarching goal is to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, making Cleveland the first Great Lakes port to adopt such an ambitious plan.

Learn more details about the grants and the plan.


Port continues to finance transformational residential projects in Northeast Ohio

Port continues to finance transformational residential projects in Northeast Ohio

The Port of Cleveland’s development finance team is busy collaborating with developers and other ports to provide unique, competitive financing that most recently was used to help make possible a new Cleveland rental housing development and a mixed-use project that could help revitalize downtown Painesville:

• The Port is issuing up to $15 million in bonds for the $19.8 million Franklin Yard project. Located at the corner of Franklin Boulevard and West 32nd Street in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood, it will include construction of a modern new three-story apartment building with 29 units and restoration of two nearby historic buildings that will create an additional 38 units.

• The $10.5 million 89th Rising Housing Development is the first modern market rate rental development in the central part of Cleveland’s Fairfax neighborhood. The development is planned by a company founded by Timothy L. Tramble Sr., president of We Rise Development, a resident of the Fairfax neighborhood and president and CEO of the Saint Luke’s Foundation. With the Port’s approval of up to $6 million in bonds, the initiative is poised to address vacancy and blight. The first phase will include 48 one- and two-bedroom rental units in six large structures designed to give the appearance of the Victorian houses that once anchored the street. Learn More

• The $33 million+ Grand River Walk is envisioned as a vibrant, mixed-use complex with 120 residential units, retail space and covered parking. The Port is committed to issuing up to $6 million in bonds for the project through their A- rated bond fund under a Cooperative Agreement with the Lake County Port Authority. Learn More

Beyond their maritime origins, port authorities have evolved into catalysts for comprehensive economic development, offering an array of benefits including speed of closing, confidentiality, off-balance sheet financing, sales tax exemption and flexible, competitive financing products.


Hullet Remnants to be Removed from Cleveland Bulk Terminal

Cleveland – March 22, 2024 – The Port of Cleveland has entered into a contract with Maple Leaf Demolition (Maple Leaf) of Canton, Ohio to remove the disassembled pieces of two Hulett Ore Unloader machines from the Port’s Cleveland Bulk Terminal (CBT).  Site preparation and clearing will commence immediately and removal will occur in April and May.

Four Huletts were originally installed at CBT (then known as the C & P Ore Dock) in the early 20th century to unload ore ships.  All four were taken down in 1999.  Two of the machines were scrapped at the time and two were set aside on the terminal in pieces. Initially intended for just five years, the Huletts' stay at CBT stretched into 24 years.  The acreage encumbered by the Hulett remnants has been undevelopable for Port purposes during that time.

The two remaining Huletts were not previously removed because they were caught in legal and administrative limbo resulting from a lawsuit brought against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps), which issued a dredging permit that included disassembly of the Huletts.  That legal action and ensuing administrative process was not concluded until a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was executed in 2018 between the Army Corps, the Port of Cleveland and several interested historic preservation groups.

The MOA gave the preservation interest groups three years to plan and raise the funding for a Hulett display.  It also obligated the Port to store the pieces until the end of the three-year period.

The Port selected Maple Leaf for the removal because, among other factors evaluated, Maple Leaf intends to make its best efforts to reassemble one Hullet in its entirety on a site the company owns in Canton.

Dave Gutheil, the Port’s Chief Commercial Officer, said, “We are very pleased to offer Maple Leaf the opportunity to reassemble one of these machines because we recognize the role they played in Cleveland’s industrial and maritime history.  That said, these machines are massive -- more than 800 tons a piece -- and it is a major undertaking both financially and technically to safely transport and reassemble one.”

Chance Ayers, owner and president of Maple Leaf, said, “My company is very excited to be awarded this contract and to have a chance to reinstall one of these historic machines on our site in Canton, which was once used for steelmaking. I’m personally passionate about this project and hope others will be pleased too.”

Mera Cardenas, Executive Director of Canalway Partners, who was spearheading efforts to put up a Hulett display, acknowledged the challenges faced in preserving the Huletts on Cleveland’s waterfront, which was ultimately not feasible.

“While we’re disappointed we weren’t able to secure an interpretive site for the artifacts over the last 25 years, we are pleased at the prospect of a fully erected Hulett nearby,” she said.  “The Port has been very collaborative and patient and I am pleased that they have found what appears to be a preservation-minded outcome under the circumstances.

“The funding that Canalway previously set aside for preservation of the Huletts will now be allocated to our ongoing work of preserving and highlighting Cleveland’s cultural and industrial history through preservation and programming,” she added.

If Maple Leaf is unable to re-erect the Hulett in its entirety, the Port has contractually obligated the company to set aside a bucket and leg for a period of one year to once again give others time to find a way to use them in a display.

Additionally, a shunt engine that was part of the Hulett unloading system will be salvaged and publicly displayed at the American Industrial Mining Museum in Brownsville, PA.

As part of the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding, the Port will return $250,000 to Canalway Partners and disburse $250,000 to the State Historic Preservation Office. This funding is intended to support interpretation of sites within the Ohio & Erie Canalway Heritage Area and the preservation of historical resources about Cleveland’s industrial heritage.

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