The Port of Oswego finds itself playing an increasingly critical role in import and export operations on not just the state level, but also the international stage. A recent four million dollar federal grant will only expand its capacity.
The port handles a lot of grain, and a new $2 million conveyor system funded by the grant will boost their volume even more. Port of Oswego Authority Executive Director and CEO Bill Scriber says it will dramatically improve their efficiency,
“As the grain comes in, we can load ships," Scriber said. "It's 30,000 bushels per hour. We're able to turn a ship and almost 40 to 45 percent quicker time.
He says the current conveyor can only move a maximum of 19,000 bushels an hour. He says more than 100 local farmers use the port to ship their grain. Most people might not guess where it goes.
“Last year, they went to Egypt, they went to Europe," Scriber said. "And that is becoming more and more important with the tensions and Ukraine and Russia. Great Lakes grain is becoming more and more important for the international market and we're providing the ability to reach that market.”
But Scriber says the port also receives commodities. It’s the second largest aluminum importer on the Great Lakes. The raw material heads to one of the largest aluminum processing plants in the country at Novelis just a few miles away. And that’s not all.
“Last year we were the largest importer of windmill components in all upstate. We ran over 300 individual components, including the largest blades manufacturing for windmills out of the port. We do a lot of different things and we're a really active port.”
It happens to be the only deep water port on Lake Ontario. Scriber says the authority is using the rest of the federal grant along with state funding to upgrade its aging railroad tracks. The port generates about a half billion dollars in annual economic activity, and directly supports more than 1,100 jobs.
