SOMERSET, N.Y. — As 2 On Your Side first reported, the Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) and Beowulf Electricity and Data are exploring the possibility of developing the old coal-fired power plant in Somerset into an international port.
The port would establish a ferry service between Oshawa and Somerset.
Some have asked, "Why Somerset?"
"One is because it's outside of the locks, it can actually be a year round service," said Ian Hamilton, President and CEO of HOPA. "It's only about 37 miles from port to port."
Hamilton says that the Welland Canal is only operational for about 10 months out of the year because of winter weather conditions.
Another reason the port makes sense for HOPA is growing traffic concerns through the Greater Toronto area and the border crossings.
"The increased border congestion problems challenges with with driver shortages, all of these things suggested we can probably build a better a better mousetrap," Hamilton said.
Hamilton says that plans are still in the very early stages, and the agency will be conducting a market study with Beowulf throughout the summer.
But they do know so basic logistics of the project.
One of those is the amount of cargo a ferry could transport from Oshawa to Somerset.
"Anywhere from 100 to 125 truckloads per vessel," Hamilton said.
The 37-mile coast-to-coast journey for a vessel from Oshawa to Somerset could be done in a single day, according to Hamilton.
"If we can successfully put one round trip per day, I think we'd be quite happy," Hamilton said. "One round trip per day would be great."
If HOPA is successful in developing a port plan with Beowulf that establishes a one-vessel-per-day route, 45,625 trucks would be removed from the border crossings each year.
"We don't have a lot of information yet," said Niagara County Legislature Chairman Rebecca Wydysh. "But just from an initial standpoint, it seems like a project that could be very beneficial for the area and for Niagara County as a whole."
Wydysh says there will be multiple studies, particularly environmental impact and traffic studies, before any plan is finalized.
One aspect of the former power plant that will need to be upgraded is the former rail lines. When the plant shut down the rail line once used to bring coal to the facility, was removed.
"It's my understanding at this point that that is the plan is to be utilizing trucks to move the goods once they're off of the ships," Wydysh said. "with the possibility the rail system is there to bring that in, in the future."
Hamilton says that HOPA is hopeful that a pilot program for the proposed port-to-port service could begin in 2025.