June 29 - The Port of Duluth has claimd a stake in the global wind energy supply chain with the movement of 60 wind turbine blades manufactured in North Dakota being exported to Brazil aboard the Dutch-flagged Alamosborg.

The 37 m blades began arriving at the port two weeks ago and have been staged at the port's breakbulk terminal awaiting final delivery to Brazil for IMPSA Wind's new CEARA II project in Ceara, Brazil. Arrival in Brazil is expected to be three weeks from sailing.

"North Dakota is fortunate to have an international seaport close to our state," says Andy Peterson, president and CEO of the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce. "Nearly 85 percent of North Dakota's goods are exported around the world. In an era when we can fill the demand for manufactured products like turbine blades, we appreciate the access to global markets afforded by the Port of Duluth."

Jonathan Lamb, vice president and general manager at Lake Superior Warehousing, the breakbulk terminal operator for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, says: "This shipment is one of nearly 20 energy-related cargoes on the books for 2012 and our second shipment of blades from North Dakota to Brazil in recent years.

"Duluth has moved well over a million freight tonnes of wind turbine components from and to Europe and South America since the port first started handling wind turbines in 2005."

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