Fact Finding Trip to Europe

From September 26 to October 2, 2009, SLSDC Administrator Collister Johnson, Jr. and Canadian counterpart, Richard Corfe, President and CEO, The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC), traveled to Europe in a binational effort to increase awareness about the opportunities and challenges of moving containers via Short Sea Shipping operations in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway (GLSLS) System.  They met with senior executives from various European inland waterway ports and terminals, as well as associations that currently conduct or promote operations in this growth industry.

For the GLSLS System to achieve its goal of successfully re-introducing container shipping into the System, the SLSDC and SLSMC sought the counsel of experienced maritime professionals from the Associated British Ports and Freight by Water, in London, England and the port and terminal mangers and ship owner/operators from the inland waterway ports of Duisburg, Germany, and Rotterdam and Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 

U.S. and Canadian Great Lakes Seaway System stakeholders routinely consult with the Seaway Corporations for research and guidance in adopting ‘best practices’ for the efficient movement of cargo to the heartland of North America.  With significant political and business interest in jumpstarting these types of operations in the System, it’s imperative that the Seaway leaders gain knowledge on how they can most effectively implement the movement of containers via short sea shipping operations based on the lessons learned and success stories of European operations that have garnered worldwide praise.

After receiving a tour of Port of Duisburg, Germany, officials engaged
in a discussion about port operations with Erich Staake, President and CEO.