Media Release

September 30, 2015 Carbon debate must consider Great Lakes-Seaway shipping’s environmental advantages

As the debate continues both at home and abroad on carbon offsetting measures, the Chamber of Marine Commerce is urging stakeholders and governments to carefully consider the environmental advantages and the competitive challenges faced by the bi-national Great Lakes-St. Lawrence shipping industry.

The call comes as the Ontario government develops details of a new cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and federal government negotiators head to Paris in December for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting.

September 10, 2015 Construction materials and wind turbines bolster first half of Seaway season

NEWS RELEASE— St. Lawrence Seaway results for the first half of the season were bolstered by shipments of construction materials and heavy lift cargo for the renewable energy sector, according to the latest figures released today. However, global weakness for some commodities has slowed overall tonnage results.  

September 10, 2015 Seaway supports U.S. business expansion in key sectors

NEWS RELEASE – St. Lawrence Seaway shipping posted strong gains in the first half of the season in shipments of U.S. grain, construction materials and heavy lift cargo for the renewable energy and manufacturing sectors, according to the latest figures released today.  However, global weakness for some commodities has slowed overall tonnage results.  

August 12, 2015 Salt remains strong on the St. Lawrence Seaway

It may be the dead heat of summer, but road salt is still in high demand across the Great Lakes-Seaway region. According to the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, salt shipments through the St. Lawrence Seaway from April 2 to July 31 are up 3 per cent to 1.4 million metric tons and those figures are in comparison to a particularly stellar year in 2014.

August 12, 2015 U.S. grain shipments via St. Lawrence Seaway up 63%

American grain shipments through the St. Lawrence Seaway are up 63 percent so far this season as ships transport corn to Canada and soybeans for international export.

According to figures from the St. Lawrence Seaway, U.S. grain totaled 765,000 metric tons for the period from April 2 through July 31.  U.S. Great Lakes ports that receive and export grain through the waterway include Duluth-Superior, Toledo, Milwaukee, Chicago, Indiana Burns Harbor and Buffalo.

July 14, 2015 St. Lawrence Seaway meets construction cargo demand

July 14, 2015 U.S. construction rebound bolsters St. Lawrence Seaway traffic

A surge in U.S. construction has led to strong demand for construction materials through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway since the start of the season in April.

St. Lawrence Seaway officials say the transport of dry bulk cargo is at nearly 3 million metric tons, up 7.5 percent through the first part of the season, April 2 through June 30. Leading the way are 102,000 metric tons of stone, a 24 percent increase. Cement products saw a healthy upswing to 563,000 metric tons, a 9.5 percent increase.

June 23, 2015 Chamber lauds government funding for Georgian College training centre

NEWS RELEASE

Ottawa, Ontario – The Chamber of Marine Commerce today congratulates one of its members, Georgian College, on securing federal and provincial government funding of $3.92 million for a new Marine Emergency Duties (MED) Training and Research Centre in Owen Sound. 

June 9, 2015 U.S. manufacturing keeps St. Lawrence Seaway bustling

U.S. manufacturing is expected to keep ship traffic on the St. Lawrence Seaway bustling this season after a strong start for general cargo shipments through the navigation system.

June 9, 2015 Grain exports keep St. Lawrence Seaway ships busy

Grain shipments through the St. Lawrence Seaway are up 7 per cent this season, continuing the pace set last year when ships carried the largest volume of grain through the navigation system in 14 years.

According to The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, grain shipments (including Canadian and U.S. grain) totaled 1.9 million metric tons from April 2 to May 31.