The Great Lakes Maritime Task Force

A U.S.-Flag Laker loads iron ore at a Lake Superior port.

An integrated tug/barge of this size can deliver enough limestone to build nearly 90 average homes each trip.

Ocean-going vessels bring general cargo to the Lakes and then leave with grain. These commodities total about 20 million tons a year.

A U.S.-Flag Laker loads cement in Charlevoix, Michigan. Since cement is as fine as face powder, air slides are attached to the vessel and the cement is pumped in. In total, U.S.- and Canadian-Flag Lakers move more than 5 million tons of cement each year.

Most of the 40-plus million tons of coal moving on the Lakes each year is for power generation.

The Lakes/Seaway system allows American and Canadian farmers to ship more than 12 million tons of grain to customers world-wide each year.

The Lakes salt trade has grown to more than 9 million tons a year.