GLS 03-25

Contact: Jennifer.Wilk@dot.gov

Great Lakes Seaway Announces Port Winners of 2024 Season “Pacesetter Award”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) announced that seven U.S. ports in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System received the Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award for increases in international cargo tonnage shipped through their ports during the 2024 navigation season. 

“Great Lakes ports are vital to America’s freight transportation network, job creation, and economic prosperity. They move the goods that support American families and the raw materials—like iron ore and coal—that keep American industries building,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. 

The Great Lakes pathway has a long, demonstrated record of being a safe, reliable, and efficient passage for commercial transportation, supporting 150,000 U.S. jobs, $26 billion in economic activity, and $19 billion in business revenue annually. The seven ports earning the Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award for 2024 are: Port of Cleveland (Ohio), Conneaut Port Authority (Ohio), Illinois International Port District (Chicago), Port of Duluth-Superior (Minn.), Lorain Port and Finance Authority (Ohio), Port Milwaukee (Wis.), and Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority (Ohio).

“Congratulations to the seven Great Lakes ports being recognized as Pacesetter Award recipients for their achievements during the 2024 Seaway navigation season,” said GLS Administrator Mike McCoshen. “These dedicated teams of port professionals work hard to move increasing amounts of cargo safely and efficiently.”

The Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award was established in 1992 to recognize the achievements of U.S. ports whose activities result in increasing international tonnage shipped through the St. Lawrence Seaway, excluding Canada, in comparison with the previous year. The Pacesetter Award name was officially changed in 2001 to posthumously honor the noteworthy career of former GLS Logistics Director Robert J. Lewis, who was instrumental in developing and implementing the Corporation’s trade development program.

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