Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: CLMT) announced it will explore the feasibility of building and operating a crude oil loading dock on Lake Superior, near its Superior refinery.

The facility will be designed to load ships with heavy Canadian and light Bakken crude oil for shipment through connecting waterways.

"Calumet is currently assessing the viability of the project and gauging interest in the marketplace. We would expect to have this project fully operational during the shipping season of 2015 and are currently in talks with potential customers and partners," Todd Borgmann, vice president of business development, said in a news release.

"This exciting project would further diversify Calumet's refining, specialty and packaged products businesses by adding an additional revenue source. The project would also provide connected refineries with another form of access to heavy Canadian and light Bakken crude oil," said Jennifer Straumins, Calumet president and COO.

The prospect of shipping oil through the Port of Duluth-Superior also was raised about a year ago. Mike McCoshen, Hallett Dock Co. president and COO, told the Duluth Seaway Port Authority Board that his company had been receiving inquiries about transshipping Bakken oil. During the Dec. 14, 2011, meeting Adolph Ojard, Port Authority executive director, said that booms to contain potential spills, along with additional rail capacity and oil storage tanks – would have to be installed, which could cost up to $15 million.

Great Lakes maritime vessels already are refueled along the Twin Ports waterfront. Oil tanker vessels also cross Lake Superior after loading fuel through Canadian ports.

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