Lake Carriers' Association

The Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) is pending legislation that will untangle the regulatory quagmire that is ballast water management. It will assign oversight to the only federal agency with maritime expertise and a long history of environmental and safety [...] Continue reading →

Each foot of available draft means the ship is leaving behind cargo. The largest lakers forfeit almost 3,200 tons of cargo of each foot of reduced draft.

Decades of inadequate funding for dredging have left an estimated 15 million cubic [...] Continue reading →

Section 27, Merchant Marine Act, 1920, commonly referred to as the Jones Act, requires cargo moving between U. S. ports be carried in vessels that are U. S.-crewed, -built and -owned. Although the law dates from 1920, legislation to promote [...] Continue reading →

CLEVELAND – U.S.-flag Great Lakes vessel operators will spend $65 million maintaining and modernizing their vessels at Great Lakes shipyards this winter. When complete, the fleet will be ready to meet the needs of commerce come the spring break-out in [...] Continue reading →