Another sign the economy is turning around — more Great Lakes Shipping vessels are being placed back in service, after an unusual summer layup.
Dozens of vessels were taken out of service this year or never left their winter layup births because of the slow down in the economy and lack of cargo to be shipped.
However, the departure of the Seaway Marine Vessel, Algosteel from Owen Sound harbour is an sign that the economic downturn could be easing.
Captain Tom Anderson is the Director of Navigation for Seaway Marine.
He says the ship was returned to service because there is a lot more cargo to be moved because steel mills are starting to ramp up production.
He also says there is increased demand for North American ore from the Great Lakes Basin to overseas markets.
Captain Anderson says at the height of the economic downturn, Seaway Marine has taken about 10 ships out of service, or about one third of their fleet because there was no cargo to ship.
Another vessel laid up in Owen Sound — the Ojibway — also left port Monday after being laid up for over a month because of a lack of grain to ship.