Port Of Algoma Chief Executive Officer Anshumali Dwivedi answers questions prior to speaking at Wednesday’s Sault Ste. Marie Chamber Of Commerce Annual General Meeting at the Delta Waterfront.

The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce had its 126th Annual General Meeting on Wednesday. The guest speaker was Port Of Algoma Chief Executive Officer Anshumali Dwivedi. His presentation included what the project will bring in the form of economic and other benefits. Dwivedi is hoping the port will allow the Sault to take advantage of its geographical location in the heart of the Great Lakes to attract many business partners…

Among the many benefits mentioned by Dwivedi are a more efficient and safe transportation system and reducing emissions with reduced truck traffic. One vessel — or 30 thousand tonnes of goods — would be the equivalent of that amount delivered by 300 rail cars or 960 transport trucks. Dwivedi mentioned an opportunity to grow the port’s potential for value-added product and jobs and talked about what’s being done with wood as an example…

In his discussions with small business owners, one of the issues is that they thought of a large target of containers — 20 per month. But Dwivedi says the combined volume from more businesses would still fill a boat — with 5 to 10 containers from each business. A team representing the Sault and nearby regions is currently being put together to help combine their core cargoes, charter the vessels and fill the boats. Dwivedi was also quick to correct a presenter who called the project the ‘future’ Port Of Algoma, saying that it exists now…

As for what is ahead for 2016, Dwivedi plans to focus on 5 million dollars of government funding secured last year. This money from the enabling grant will be used to help put in an application for larger funding for the port. This would include the traffic assessment, the order of business case, consultation with First Nations and environmental work in the next phase. The first phase is expected to be finished before the end of the year with some of that work expected to be already completed.