By Dave Strandberg May 24, 2021 | 4:25 AM SUPERIOR, WI (KDAL) – Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Superior will use funding from the Wisconsin Sea Grant program to study how reduced ice coverage will impact shipping on the Great Lakes. Richard Stewart, director of the Transportation and Logistics Research Center at UWS, says expectations are that by 2050 there will be very little ice on the Great Lakes to impede vessel travel. That would result in a longer shipping season and a need for fewer ships. A year-round season could attract new commodities to the Twin Ports and Duluth Seaway Port Authority director, Deb DeLuca says it could open the entire waterway to greater usage which would be a plus for all sorts of reasons.