The Chamber of Marine Commerce reports that early tonnage figures show a strong start for the 66th navigation season on the St. Lawrence Seaway demonstrating the resilience, predictability, and sustainability of the binational system.
Early fleet positioning due to low winter ice coverage on the Great Lakes jump-started grain and potash traffic. Canadian and U.S. grain totals increased by 39,000 metric tonnes over the previous year, totaling approximately 1.21 million metric tonnes to date.
Similarly, potash traffic posted an increase of 83,000 tonnes, bringing the total up to 110,000 metric tonnes to date. Potash, which includes various mined and manufactured minerals that contain potassium in water-soluble form, is used in fertilizers to support plant growth, increase crop yield and disease resistance, and enhance water preservation.
“Our dedication to investing in infrastructure renewal lays the foundation for the Seaway’s exceptional reliability. This is critical because marine transportation is the most fuel-efficient and cost-effective method to transport goods,” said Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. “A recent study showed the marine industry in the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway region supports almost 360,000 jobs and generates $66.1 billion dollars (CAD) in economic activity.”
Source: Chamber of Marine Commerce