Marine Industry Celebrates Opening of Season With Seaway Week

 

Ottawa, Ontario — The Great Lakes-Seaway navigation season will kick off next week with a series of events celebrating the economic significance of the marine shipping industry.

Dubbed “Seaway Week”, the events will include the traditional Opening Day ceremony of the St. Lawrence Seaway at the Welland Canal on March 22^nd.

Rob Bryson, Vice President of P&H Grain Group, and Donald Gallienne, Director, Finished Product Transportation Logistics for Aluminerie Alouette, will serve as keynote speakers at the opening ceremony. The executives will be sharing how marine transportation on the Seaway enables their firms to trade in a global economy.

Following that public celebration, the chief executives of the two Seaway management corporations will be speaking at economic clubs and chambers of commerce in cities in Canada and the U.S. 

Terence Bowles, chief executive of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, will appear at a Canadian Club luncheon event in Montreal and an Economic Club of Canada luncheon in Toronto on March 26^th and 27^th respectively.

Collister Johnson, Jr., Administrator of the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporationwill speak at the “Breakfast on the Move” briefing series at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. on Monday, March 26.

He will also be the keynote speaker at a breakfast meeting of The Greater Cleveland Partnership – Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition on Wednesday, March 28.

Ray Johnston, president of the Chamber of Marine Commerce, said: “The St. Lawrence Seaway plays an integral role in the economic prosperity of Canada.  The marine highway is an essential corridor for U.S./Canadian trade as well as connecting North American ports with the Atlantic Ocean and world markets. As this 54^th navigation season begins, this is the perfect opportunity to underline these benefits to the public and business communities.”

Steve Fisher, Executive Director of the American Great Lakes Ports Association, said: “With more than 100 ports in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System, the economic benefits of this vital trade route to North American farmers, businesses and consumers is far-reaching. We welcome the opportunities presented by the opening of the Seaway to share with the public and business communities how this water highway serves as a global economic catalyst.”

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway maritime industry supports 227,000 jobs in Canada and the U.S., and annually generates $14.5 billion in salary and wages, $34.6 billion in business revenue and $4.7 billion in federal, state/provincial and local taxes. North American farmers, steel producers, construction firms, food manufacturers, and power generators depend on the 164 million tonnes of essential raw materials and finished products that are moved annually on the system. This vital trade corridor saves companies $3.6 billion per year in transportation costs compared to the next least-costly land-based alternative.

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Marine Delivers is a bi-national, industry collaboration that aims to demonstrate the positive economic and environmental benefits, safety, energy efficiency, and sustainability of the shipping industry throughout the Great Lakes-Seaway System. The Marine Delivers initiative is administered by the American Great Lakes Ports Association in the United States, and the Chamber of Marine Commerce in Canada. For more information, visit the Marine Delivers website at www.marinedelivers.com.