Shipment rates reduced at Thunder Bay Port.

• Author: GOULIQUER, DIANNE
• Position: Brief Article

The Thunder Bay Port Authority has announced an across-the-board reduction of 10 per cent on its rates on goods and rates on vessels, a move made possible through "sharp" reductions in the authority's (and former Harbour Commission's) administrative and maintenance costs over the past few years.

Port Authority chief executive officer Dennis Johnson says harbour dues have been frozen since 1988, but because of downsizing and declines in port tonnage over the past 10 years, officials have decided a reduction for harbour users is necessary.

"Over the years we've been downsizing quite radically," Johnson says. "At one time we had as many as 15 people in this office. There are five now."

He says market shifts, rail competition, new prairie grain facilities and increased costs of seaway transits because of new or increased user charges have all taken their toll on port shipments. These factors have resulted in cargo diversions to Vancouver, Quebec City...