Posted on May 10, 2016
By Andrew Lersten, The Herald Palladium
When we think of Southwest Michigan’s ties to Lake Michigan, we often think first of sandy beaches, tourism and marinas filled with sailboats.
But its history is deeply connected to the commercial shipping industry that relies heavily on Southwest Michigan’s only commercial port – the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor harbor.
In the 19th century, commercial shipping was critical to the fruit and lumber industries.
Now, the port brings in tons of construction material, such as limestone, concrete and sand and road salt on large freighters.
U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, held a press conference Friday along the waterfront in Benton Harbor to discuss the importance of the port and upcoming dredging work.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans dredge work next week in the outer harbor – in Lake Michigan near the piers – and the inner harbor in July. The project will cost an estimated $1 million.
“This is indeed a very important commercial port. We have close to a billion dollars’ worth of aggregate coming in here every year,” Upton said. “Thousands of jobs are dependent on the viability of this port. It’s about jobs. It’s also about a cleaner environment. It’s also about tourism and fishing.”
Without the port, the material would have to be shipped into the nearest commercial port in Muskegon, he said.
The dredging cost is worth every penny, Upton said.
“For about $1 million, we are able to bring in about a billion worth of aggregate. That’s a good trade-off,” Upton said.
Joining Upton at the press conference were the mayors of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, county officials and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff.
Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad likened the importance of the harbor to the Panama Canal.
“It’s a great resource we must keep current. It’s like the Panama Canal of this area. We’re pleased and we look forward to greater and better things,” Muhammad said.
State Rep. Al Pscholka, R-Stevensville, noted the cost-saving benefits of freight shipping.
“It’s 10 times cheaper to commercially ship than trucks. And it’s three times cheaper than rail,” he said.
Upton said the harbor accounts for $840 million in revenues annually, supports more than 5,000 jobs, and generates more than $251 million in income in the transportation and commodities industries.
Source: The Herald Palladium
