Wind turbines arrive at Thunder Bay port

Thunder Bay's Keefer Terminal has been buzzing with activity recently.

On Wednesday crews at the port were busy unloading wind turbines from a German ship. While the turbines are headed to Alberta, port officials say they are looking forward to similar shipments next year that will be set up in this region.

The turbines arrived in Thunder Bay on Sunday, aboard the Beluga Favourisation and they are being unloaded in various pieces. This is the first shipment of the turbines the terminal has received this year, and another is scheduled to dock in a couple of weeks.

Port Authority CEO Tim Heney said the 16 turbines originated in Germany, and will be loaded onto trucks for delivery to a wind farm in Alberta. He said dealing with shipments like this is something the port has been working on for years.

The majority of wind turbines unloaded in Thunder Bay so far have been shipped west, but those shipments will soon be delivered closer to home. Several wind farms have been planned for this region, with the first one expected to go up next year outside of Dorion.

Heney said Keefer terminal will be an ideal location for that delivery and possibly others.

Heney added that the unique thing about this week's wind turbine shipment is that when the big vessel returns to Europe, it will be carrying a load of flax seed bound for Belgium. It is that kind of two-way shipping that the Port Authority believes shows how versatile the Thunder Bay port can be.