Building on the Regional Maritime Strategy, the Blue Accounting maritime transportation work group established the following high-level goals for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River maritime transportation system:
Goal 1: Increase maritime traffic and trade
Goal 2: Increase the system’s efficiency and performance
Goal 3: Continue improving the environmental performance of the system
Download the Maritime Transportation Fact sheet here.
The Blue Accounting maritime transportation work group has identified metrics to track progress toward each goal.
While there are many metrics by which maritime trade and traffic can be measure, the Blue Accounting maritime transportation work group will focus on the following:
The maritime transportation work group will focus on measuring the performance of navigation locks, which are key chokepoints in the system.
In 2017, an estimated 194 million metric tonnes worth about $73 billion USD ($95 billion CAD) were carried on the Maritime Transportation System. Bulk cargoes such as iron ore, stone, grain, and coal make up the majority of the tonnage of goods moving on the MTS. However, containers carried on the MTS make up the largest share of value.
In 2017, approximately $73 billion USD ($95 billion CAD) were carried on the Maritime Transportation System.
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River region’s globally unique freshwater system features vibrant coastal communities, culture, and history that make the Maritime Transportation System increasingly attractive for cruise tourism. Tourism can generate substantial economic benefits through cruise package spending, port calls, associated excursions and the purchase of support services.
Over the past ten years, the tonnage of containerized cargo handled at Maritime Transportation System (MTS) ports has grown by 29%. In 2018, about 14.6 million metric tonnes of containerized cargo was handled at MTS ports.
The reliable and efficient operation of the locks on the St. Lawrence Seaway and at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan (Soo Locks) is critically important to the movement of cargo on the Maritime Transportation System (MTS).
Green Marine is a voluntary environmental certification program for the maritime industry which is endorsed by a wide range of environmental groups and governments. Blue Accounting is tracking participation and performance by Great Lakes and St. Lawrence companies participating in Green Marine.
The U.S. and Canadian federal governments, vessel operators, academic partners and others are collaborating in a number of areas to address environmental challenges associated with maritime transportation in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. This includes investments, research, management practices, and new regulations in the following areas (see investments for additional background):
In addition to funding programs, some states and provinces have chosen to engage in strategic planning to identify maritime needs and issues, and guide investment in their systems. Some Maritime Transportation System (MTS) states and provinces created their own maritime-specific funding programs, which are often intended to help ports pay for infrastructure upgrades, or improve connections to highways and railroads. Currently, three states or provinces have maritime-specific plans or strategies, and all states and provinces also have more generalized freight transportation plans.
In 2018, an estimated 193 different cruise itineraries and carried 177,000 cruise passenger across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.