Canada-U.S. study shortsea shipping opportunities

WASHINGTON — The governments of Canada and America have released a joint study that examines the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway system as a vital transportation resource for both countries.

“As one of the world’s greatest and most strategic waterways, it has always been an essential part of North America’s transportation infrastructure,” said Canadian Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon. “The system is at the heart of one of the largest and most dynamic trade hubs in the world. We want to make sure that in years to come it continues to serve efficiently as one of North America’s trade corridors.”

The study guides both nations to maintain the marine artery, support trade and protect local ecosystems, added U.S. Transport Secretary Mary E. Peters.

The underutilized St. Lawrence Seaway could be
one of world’s most strategic waterways.

The seaway system has the capacity to carry twice the volume of its current traffic, stakeholders say, and could be better used in combination with rail and trucking operations to provide a more efficient, effective and environmentally friendly way to transport goods.

The study looks at home the seaway is meeting current and future commercial transport needs, as well as identifies how to maintain the infrastructure and operate the system in an environmentally sustainable fashion while reaching its maximum potential.

The report’s four major observations suggest that, firstly, the GLSLS system has the potential to alleviate congestion on the road and rail transportation networks as well as at border crossings in the Great Lakes Basin and St. Lawrence River region.

Also, a stronger focus on shortsea shipping would allow the GLSLS system to be more closely integrated with the road and rail transportation systems, while providing shippers with a cost-effective, timely and reliable means to transport goods.

The existing infrastructure of the GLSLS system must be maintained in good operating condition in order to ensure the continued safety, reliability and competitiveness of the system.

And finally, the long-term health and success of the GLSLS system will depend in part on its sustainability, including further reduction of ecological impacts caused by commercial navigation.

The entire binational report on the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Study is available at www.glsls-study.com (link below).