Great Lakes Maritime Task Force

GOAL: Support The Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA), S. 168. VIDA establishes a uniform, Federal standard for treatment of ballast water and recognizes that vessels such as lakers that confine their operations to a “geographically limited area” need not treat their ballast, as they do not move from ecosystem to ecosystem.

BACKGROUND: In 2006 the St. Lawrence Seaway began requiring oceangoing vessels to exchange their ballast water before entering the system. … Continue reading →

GOAL: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting an Economic Reevaluation Report (ERR) on a second Poe-sized lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.  The Corps’ 2005 analysis incorrectly assumed the railroads could move the cargo that transits the Soo Locks at no additional cost.  That false premise resulted in a benefit/cost (b/c) ratio of less than 1.0, so the project has been ineligible for funding in an Administration budget.  … Continue reading →

GOAL: Seek legislation in the 115th Congress authorizing construction of a second Great Lakes heavy icebreaker (GLIB).

BACKGROUND: The winters of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 were the most severe experienced on the Lakes since the early 1990s. During the winter of 2013/2014, 92.5 percent of the Lakes were ice-covered. The winter of 2014/2015 wasn’t much better; ice coverage peaked at 88.8 percent.

The near arctic conditions all but paralyzed the Great Lakes navigation … Continue reading →

GOAL: Ensure that the Lakes receive their fair share of the increased funding for dredging mandated by the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014.

BACKGROUND: Decades of inadequate funding for dredging the Great Lakes have left more than 15 million cubic yards of sediment clogging ports and waterways throughout the system.  As a result, even in periods of high water, the largest vessels still cannot carry full loads.  Worse, … Continue reading →

GOAL: Enact a narrow exemption from the Harbor Maintenance Tax for non-bulk cargos moved on the Great Lakes.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, transportation planners have been struggling to identify ways to move people and goods more efficiently while reducing the effects on the environment. Congested highways–particularly in urban areas–hinder the flow of commerce and hamper North America’s economic growth. Likewise, rail capacity is limited in many areas. Expansion of highway and … Continue reading →

GOAL: Strict adherence to all existing maritime cabotage laws, as they play a crucial role in America’s national, homeland and economic security.

BACKGROUND: Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920, mandates that all cargo moving between U.S. ports be carried in vessels that are crewed by Americans, built by Americans, and owned by Americans. Section 27 is generally referred to as the Jones Act. Other laws and statutes apply the … Continue reading →

GOAL: Support programs to increase commercial shipbuilding and repair at Great Lakes yards.

BACKGROUND: Shipyards with large-scale capability are in Sturgeon Bay, Marinette and Superior, Wisconsin; Toledo, Ohio; and Erie, Pennsylvania.  Small drydocks and/or ship repair facilities are located in Cleveland, Toledo, Milwaukee, Detroit, RogersCity (Michigan), and Sault Ste. Marie (Michigan).

Great Lakes shipyards are fully capable of building all types of commercial and military vessels.  The only real limitation on vessel … Continue reading →

GOAL: Seek long-term Federal funding for the Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute (GLMRI) co-chaired by the University of Wisconsin-Superior and the University of Minnesota Duluth.  GLMRI is a designated National Maritime Enhancement Institute (NMEI) and under public law 1121-2 is eligible for on-going annual funding.  However, GLMRI currently operates on a cooperative agreement with the Maritime Administration that funds projects on a one-year-at-a-time basis, but to be truly functional for … Continue reading →