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OSWEGO, NY - The Port of Oswego Authority continues to thrive with new business activity, as international trade shipments continue to arrive on a regular basis, according to Jonathan Daniels, executive director at the port.

In what many would consider a weak economy, the port continues to buck that trend with record-setting results.

The St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation recently awarded the Port of Oswego Authority, a Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award for outstanding increase in international cargo tonnage in 2007.

This is the fourth consecutive year the port has received the distinction.

Of the four U.S. Great Lakes ports that also received Pacesetter awards, the Port of Oswego had the largest increase over the past year - bringing in 182,000 tons of cargo, representing a staggering 220 percent increase in international tonnage.

“We have worked very hard to increase our international cargo, and receiving this recognition over the past four years is a great indication that we are having significant success with our efforts,” said Daniels. “I am particularly proud of the employees we have at the Port of Oswego Authority, whose work continues to make this port an important and viable economic pillar in our community.”

In addition to cement, asphalt, fuel oil, soy beans and windmill components, imports of aluminum ingots destined for Novelis, fertilizers and other materials crucial to local industry are distributed from local port docks each year.

“In 2007 we continued to see windmill shipments along with increases in petroleum and agricultural materials,” said board chair Christopher Dain. “With the continued rise of fuel costs, shipping has a definite advantage for large shipments. The economics of scale for water shipments can be very attractive for certain materials and products.”

Dain also mentioned other economic gains that stem from cargo shipments to Oswego such as truckers, longshoremen and others involved that come to Oswego and spend their pay at local grocery stores, gas stations, hotels, restaurants and other area businesses.

“The economic impact of a healthy and robust port stretches further into the community than many people know,” Dain said. “Our success is important to the success of our community and leads to the stability of the businesses we serve.”

Daniels credits much of the port’s success to its volunteer board of directors and the skilled longshoremen it employees when shipments arrive.

“Our relationship with the International Longshoremen’s Association allows us to provide the labor needed to off load materials to our marshalling yard and prepare them for further transport,” Daniels said.

Other Great Lakes ports that received Pacesetter recognition included: Duluth-Superior, Detroit and Toledo who saw increases between 6 and 15 percent.

A nine-member volunteer board of directors appointed by the New York State governor serves the Port of Oswego Authority.

Nearly 120 vessels and more than a million tons of cargo move through the Port of Oswego on an annual basis.

Eleven companies currently call the port home for at least a portion of their domestic and international shipping operations.

The Port of Oswego is the first U.S. port and first deepwater port on the Great Lakes from the St. Lawrence Seaway and is accessible from virtually any international port in the world.

The port was officially commissioned in 1955, but has been a major driver in local and national commerce since the 1800s.

The port is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to accommodate vessels from all ports on the Great Lakes and around the world.

The port entrance depth is 27 feet, a width of 750 feet, a turning basin of 115 acres, and it has no restrictions on beam length for ships entering the harbor.

A U.S. Customs Service office is maintained on site to facilitate the movement of legitimate international cargo by rail, truck and water.

For more information, call the Port of Oswego Authority at 315-343-4503 or visit www.portoswego.com

Oswego Harborfest has announced that the popular 50-50 Raffle to benefit Harborfest will return in 2009.

Farnham Family Services, an Oswego-based substance abuse treatment and prevention center, is now selling tickets for its 2009 Changing Lives Raffle.

As this column goes to press the 152nd Oswego County Fair should be in full swing at Sandy Creek. During the previous week the Heritage building was stocked full with many new and unique exhibits. We even brought down a piano for some live music!