b'26American Journal ofTransportation ajot.com(ENHANCEDcontinued from page 22) itwasstillapproximately40%lowerintermsI say itnorth of 27% compared to late July of last Wearestrivingtoprovidethebestcustomerofyear-over-yearvolumes.Contributingfactorsyear, says Jim Athanasiou, the St. Lawrence Seaway experienceinthemarketbyinvestingintherightinclude a steadily diminishing coal market, alongManagement Corporations President and CEO.people,equipment,andinfrastructure,saidJoewithlowerdemandforroadsalt.However,tariffIronoreshipmentsarelowerbutthenow Starck, President of Great Lakes Towing. Our relo- uncertainties might be playing havoc with fuel pur- fewer companies that exist post mergers and acqui-cation to Port Canaveral is a reflection of that commit- chases. We typically receive a significant amountsitionshavebeenmorefocusedonfirstprocur-ment. We are dedicated to delivering a quality serviceof diesel and gasoline and then ship ethanol for useing the iron ore available within the Great Lakes our customers can count onreliably, efficiently, andin fuel to the US and Canadian seaboards, Haenregion over the last decade before purchasing over-with a focus on continuous improvement. explains. Buyers could be delaying their purchasesseas imports, he says. during the current US - Canada trade issues. Lookingahead,oneofthemostpromising (TIMINGcontinued from page 25) At the same time, European and Brazilian soft- opportunities is expanding container shipping on wood pulp for making diapers and other productstheGreatLakes.Bythe2026season,fourUS held. The project has led to the C. Reiss Co. relocat- has skyrocketed by 300%. In this case, I think man- portsCleveland,Duluth,Monroe,andBurns ing its shipping operations from Duluth for approxi- ufacturers are seeking to get shipments before tariffsHarborwillhaveCustomBorderProtection matelytwomilliontonsofcoal,limestone,saltcome into effect, Haen says. cleared container service. and other bulk cargos annually. The project at theWhile Haen acknowledges tar- SeveralCanadianportshave 50-acre site included restoring 2,500 feet of dockiffs may be causing some negativ- expressedinterestinbinationalcon-way, just over 87,000 feet of rail, as well as otherity, hes optimistic they will resulttainer services connecting with trans-maintenance and storage facilities. in some good, too. I just read thatatlantic routes but continue to await p Ort Ofg reenB ay f reIghtv Olumes some$108billionwasunexpect- clearance resources from the Canada edlygeneratedbythefirstnineBorder Agency. Recent Canada-U.S. d Own ButJ ulyB etter months of tariffs, he says. Thatsborder issues might also make bina-The Port of Green Bay is investing upwards ofahugeamountofmoneyintothetional collaboration more challenging.$50 million for a 1,700-foot dock accommodatingTreasury[which]shouldcreateAthanasiouisamongthose two or three tenants, as well as 38 laydown acres.some positive things. determined to increase the Seaways Construction is expected to begin next April. trafficsignificantlyfromitslong-Dean Haen, the Director of the Port of Greens t . l awrenCes eawayt raffICu p standing 50% capacity but transport-Bay, says it will further diversify cargo. Well letGreat Lakes St. Lawrence SeawayJim Athanasiou, President &ingmorecontainerizedshipments. the market decide how it wants to use it, but Wiscon- commercial vessel traffic through theCEO, St. Lawrence SeawayThebusinesscasemightnotbe sin is a huge agricultural state so why not use marineUS locks at Massena, New York, isManagement Corp. there yet in terms of profitability on transport to deliver more liquid fertilizer? he says.up 11% over last year, and total cargothe micro level, but more people are Our state is also strong in papermaking requiringtonnage has increased by 4%, according to the Greatseeing how it makes sense on a macro scale to use kaolin clay, and we have the space for large projectLakes Seaway Development Corporation. Highway H20, he says, adding that Europe has cargo such as wind turbines. US grain exports are upwards of 114%, and drynumerous successful examples.As of late June, the port was trailing in cargobulk has rebounded from a spring dip to post a 3%The Great Lakes and Seaway are close to a volumes. Haen says its difficult to know whethergain. Cruise activity is also rising, with five shipsthirdormoreofNorth Americaspopulation,so its due to tariff uncertainties or just business timing.sailing this yeartwo more than last seasontakingwe should be taking advantage of this underutilized We remain optimistic about staying on track withpassengers to Great Lakes communities each week.system to ship containers to ports for ultimate deliver last years volume of just over two million tons ofOverallbinationalSeawaytrafficisslightlyby train and/or truck in a well-balanced solution to cargos by the end of the season. above 2024 levels at mid-season with a huge boosthighway congestion, continued urban densification, While the port began to see an early July uptick,from a record year for Canadian grain. Weredareand greener transportation solutions.EUROPE - GREAT LAKES SERVICEConnecting the Baltic, Continent, Mediterranean and the Great LakesContainer liner service between Europe and Valleyfield, Cleveland and DuluthCONTAINERSLiner owned equipment door-to-door serviceBULK CARGOMore info: www.spliethoff.com or [email protected] / [email protected] CARGO'