The ports of Little Bay de Noc, Escanaba and Gladstone, have a thriving shipping industry.
The most active dock is the WC oredock in Escanaba. This modern shiploader ships taconite pellets primarily from the
Empire Mine near Palmer and the Minorca pellet plant near Virginia, Minnesota. A small amount of pellets from the Tilden Mine
near Palmer are also shipped.
The C. Reiss coal dock recieves coal shipments, and also limestone shipments. The limestone is loaded into orecars by
front-end loaders for shipment to the Empire Mine.
The C. Reiss company also uses the Escanaba Power Plant dock for coal shipments. The power plant no longer burns coal
itself. Salt shipments are also recieved here.
The Upper Lakes coal dock in Gladstone recieves cargoes of coal and salt.
Basic Marine shipyard is located in Escanaba, at the old C & NW roundhouse site. The L.E. BLOCK has been in long-term
lay-up at their yard since 1987. They also operate a fleet of tug-boats.
Upper Lakes Towing company is also based out of Escanaba, and their 2 lakers often spend winter lay-up at local docks.
The Escanaba Municipal dock in Ludington Park is used by US Coast Guard vessels when they are in town, and visiting museum
ships and such.
