EASTPORT – The Eastport port is thriving.

The past two years, Estes Head has set all kinds of records for tonnage shipped out of the port, and this year is no exception.

“The port is having an excellent year,” George “Bud” Finch, chairman of the Eastport Port Authority, said this week.

Right now the port ships pulp from the Domtar pulp and paper mill in Baileyville. The pulp is used in the papermaking process in various countries.

The port is expected to ship about 360,000 to 370,000 metric tons this year.

“Last year we did about 356,000 tons, and the year before about 340,000 tons,” Finch said.

When the Estes Head port first was proposed years ago, it was estimated it would ship 40,000 metric tons. People were excited when in 2001 longshoremen loaded 5,000 metric tons of pulp aboard some of the first ships to dock in the city.

The increased tonnage does not mean more ships in port.

“Due to a change in shipping this year, it’s actually fewer ships taking more cargo,” Finch said.

The cargo is shipped to ports in Asia and Europe.

The $23 million Estes Head Port was completed in 1998 and is one of the deepest seaports in the United States. The 634-foot-long pier is closer to Europe than any other port in the country.

When the port was dedicated, state and local officials were optimistic about the future. Since then no new shippers have been added and the port continues to be essentially a one-shipper port. That’s why the port is looking for more and varied cargo.

“We are looking at other cargo,” Finch said. “What is the future growth of the windmill industry? Can we bring those into Maine? We are still looking at gravel out of Maine. We’re looking at wood pellets to Europe and logs to Asia,” he added.

Finch hopes to drum up more business for the port this year.

In November he plans to travel with Gov. John Baldacci’s trade group to Japan and South Korea for the International Trade Conference. “We don’t go on all the trips, but the ones we believe are conducive to good business practices for the port we do go on,” he said.

Another first this year is that in July and September two cruise ships carrying about 100 passengers each will be at the city’s downtown port.

Finch said the cruise ships would not interrupt the cargo business at Estes Head, which is about two miles from the downtown area.

“They will pull right into the fish pier and come right up on the mainland right by the fisherman’s statue,” he said.