INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Ports of Indiana this week hosted key leaders from the Great Lakes maritime industry to highlight the critical role of maritime commerce to Indiana's economy.
In recognition of this event, Governor Eric J. Holcomb issued a proclamation identifying December 12, 2018, as Great Lakes Maritime Day during a meeting with Ports of Indiana CEO Vanta E. Coda II; Mark Barker, President, The Interlake Steamship Company, Middleburg Heights, Ohio; Paul Pathy, President, Fednav Limited, Montreal, Quebec; Mark Pietrocarlo, Vice President, American Steamship Company, Buffalo, New York; Craig Middlebrook, Deputy Administrator, Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation/U.S Department of Transportation, Washington, DC; and Steve Fisher, Executive Director, American Great Lakes Ports Association, Washington, DC.
The proclamation reads as follows:
Whereas the state of Indiana places tremendous value on the Great Lakes system as an economic and environmental resource; and
Whereas a study released in July 2018 by the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway maritime industry shows Indiana plays a crucial role in cargo shipping on this binational navigation system; and
Where the Great Lakes is both the world's largest body of fresh water and a vital international shipping channel; and
Whereas the Great Lakes shoreline spans more than 4,800 miles in the United States, and while only 45 miles of that are in Indiana, which is less than 1% of the shoreline, Indiana accounts for over half of the U.S. economic activity related to shipping on the Great Lakes; and
Whereas cargo movements on the Great Lakes generated economic impacts in Indiana during 2017 that supported 66,158 jobs; created $13.7 billion (USD) in economic activity and generated $4.9 billion (USD) in personal income;
Now, therefore, I, Eric J. Holcomb, Governor of the State of Indiana, do hereby proclaim December 12, 2018 as Great Lakes Maritime Day in the State of Indiana, and invite all citizens to duly note this occasion.
