Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway - The world’s longest inland waterway

by Ontario Sailing Association on 9 Mar 2012 The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway, commonly referred to as Hwy H2O, is a 3,700 km deep draft marine highway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. Granting access to North America’s agricultural and industrial heartland, it is the world’s longest inland waterway and has served as a key means of transportation for thousands of years.

Every year, more than 160 million metric tons of cargo is moved on the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System. These cargoes include iron ore for steel production, coal for power generation, limestone and cement for construction and grain for both domestic consumption and export. Marine transportation on Hwy H2O provides a cost effective, safe and environmentally smart means of moving cargo.

A 2010 study by Martin Associates examining the economic impacts of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System concludes that some 226,833 jobs in Canada and the U.S. are supported by cargo moving on the System. Of those jobs, 48,288 direct jobs and 28,320 indirect jobs are in Canada. The report also indicates that maritime activity supports 14.5 billion Canadian dollars in personal income and expenditures in Canada and the U.S. The average annual salary for direct job holders in Canada and the U.S. as a result of maritime activity is 48,400 Canadian dollars.

Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, said: 'The economic benefits of Great Lakes-Seaway shipping are far-reaching. Not only is marine shipping creating jobs in Canadian communities, but marine-related industries and employees are contributing significantly to the general prosperity of Canadian society by providing $4.6 billion in personal income. In addition, North American farmers, steel producers, construction firms, food manufacturers and power generators depend on the 164 million metric tons of iron ore, coal, stone, salt, sugar, grain, steel, wind turbines and machinery that are delivered by ships every year to keep their businesses running.'

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System continues to evolve and renew. Hands Free Mooring, a novel means of securing vessels using vacuum pads during a lock transit, will increase the number of vessels able to transit the System by reducing the need for 'Seaway fittings'. With over $1 billion in new vessels on order by inland fleets, the future of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System is indeed looking bright as companies make investments that will yield dividends for decades to come.

For more information on the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System, including access to the full study entitled 'The Economic Impacts of the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Seaway System' please visit here. The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway has been a proud supporter of Ontario Sailing since Ontario Sailing Association website