Great Lakes News


New Lock at the Soo Reauthorized in WRDA 2022 at $3.219 Billion

Dec 29, 2022

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District New Lock at the Soo Project in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan is reauthorized in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2022 on Dec 23, 2022. The project reauthorization amount is $3.219 billion…

Volumes Rising on Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Seaway System

Nov 14, 2022

Shipping across the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Seaway system topped 4.2 million tons in October, led by strong gains in grain as well as potash, salt and other dry bulk cargos. Overall grain shipments reached 1.5 million tons, a reflection of…

Great Lakes Winter Supply Chain – A Cause for Concern

Nov 07, 2022

As the temperatures start their annual decline on the Great Lakes, an icy chill is in the air. Shipping companies across the lakes are rushing to get final loads of critical raw materials from the northern lakes to the manufacturing facilities on the lower lakes…

New Lock at the Soo: Unlocking the Great Lakes

Oct 21, 2022

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District works on unlocking the Great Lakes by providing a much-needed resiliency at the Soo Locks with the construction of the New Lock at the Soo. The New Lock at the Soo will be the same dimensions as the Poe Lock…

“Welcome to a Dying Industry (1988)”

Oct 12, 2022

While pundits have long proclaimed the U.S. maritime industry dying or dead, the recent delivery of Great Lakes laker Mark W. Barker suggests an innovative future instead.Jacksonville Shipyard was a well-known repair yard that was particularly…

Navigating Climate Change: How Shipping is Adapting in the St. Lawrence

Sep 26, 2022

When compared to other major river navigation routes around the world, the St. Lawrence River is a favored waterway.It flows from the mouth of Lake Ontario, at an altitude of 250 meters. From its source to the Gulf, the river travels 1,197 kilometers…

Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Down in July

Aug 18, 2022

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 5.3 million tons in July, a decrease of 6.8% compared to a year ago, according to trade group the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). Shipments were also 6.3% below the month’s 5-year average, LCA said…

US Grain, Coke Exports Drive Great Lakes-Seaway Shipping Activity in June

Jul 19, 2022

U.S. grain and coke exports boosted overall shipping volumes through the St. Lawrence Seaway in June.Total cargo tonnage shipments (from March 22 to June 30) via the St. Lawrence Seaway totaled 11.9 million metric tons, down 8.3% compared to 2021 but gaining ground in comparison to April…

US Grain Shipments Through Great Lakes-Seaway Up 39%

Jun 22, 2022

U.S. grain shipments via the Great Lakes-Seaway system totaled 312,000 metric tons from March 22 to May 31, up 39% compared to the same period in 2021. Much of the increase is due to exports of corn and soybeans out of the Port of Toledo and…

Great Lakes-Seaway Cargo Rose 7% in 2021

Jun 16, 2022

Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway ships carried an estimated 149 million metric tons of cargo to and from domestic ports, and to overseas markets during the 2021 shipping season — an increase of 7% over pandemic-stricken 2020, a new report from the Chamber of Marine Commerce shows…

Toledo Harbor Dredging Contract Awarded

May 19, 2022

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Buffalo District awarded a $4,565,000 contract to Michigan-based Ryba Marine Construction Company on May 17 to conduct dredging of the federal navigation channel in Toledo Harbor and the Maumee River…

Lack of Icebreakers Hinders Great Lakes Shipping

May 12, 2022

A lack of U.S. Coast Guard icebreaking capacity is hindering shipping on the Great Lakes, a U.S. maritime industry coalition said on Thursday.During this year’s ice season, the U.S.-flag Great Lakes shipping industry lost the equivalent of a month due to delays in ice covered waters…

St. Lawrence Seaway Kicks Off 2022 Navigation Season

Mar 23, 2022

The St. Lawrence Seaway kicked off its 2022 navigation season on Tuesday, with international freighters able to arrive at the Montreal – Lake Ontario section of the binational St. Lawrence Seaway.“We’re thrilled to start the 2022 navigation season…

Cleveland Harbor Dredging Contract Awarded

Mar 15, 2022

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Buffalo District awarded a $5.98 million contract to Michigan-based Walsh Service Solutions on March 10 to conduct dredging of the federal navigation channel in Cleveland Harbor.Dredging, which is scheduled to take place during two seasonal periods…

Port of Toronto Imports Up 4%

Feb 24, 2022

Imports of cement, steel, sugar and salt moving through the Port of Toronto and directly into the heart of Canada's largest city in 2021 surpassed 2.2 million metric tonnes for the 5th consecutive year. Bypassing trade gateways disrupted by the pandemic…

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