August 11 - The Port of Milwaukee will today collect an award from the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation in recognition of a significant increase in international tonnage moved through the Seaway in 2009.

Last year Milwaukee moved more than 318,000 metric tonnes of cargo through the St. Lawrence Seaway - a 22 percent increase compared with 2008.

Eric Reinelt, port director, is due to accept the award on behalf of the port and the city.

He said: "Milwaukee has always looked to the Seaway as a vital marine trade route for moving manufactured and agricultural goods to market and receiving essential imports.

"That was especially true in 2009 as we saw an increase in grain exports and handled an 800,000 pound transformer - the biggest piece of project cargo we've moved in recent years."