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Many U.S.-Flag lakers are maintained and modernized in the shipyard in Toledo |
When winter finally closes the dry-bulk trades, as many as 25 U.S.-Flag lakers tie-up in Ohio's Lake Erie ports, but even though the engines are stopped, the ships are alive with craftsmen performing maintenance and repairs. The 8-10 week winter lay-up is when the ships are tuned up for the next season and the work represents millions of dollars of economic activity for Ohio shipyard workers and supply industries.
When a modernization project or an inspection requires a vessel to be dry-docked, the shipyard in Toledo is a frequent destination. The drydock was recently lengthened to accommodate bigger ships.
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Many U.S.-Flag lakers are maintained and modernized in the shipyard in Toledo |
While Cleveland is one of the leading shipping and receiving ports on the Great Lakes, the number of fleets and maritime-oriented organizations headquartered in the city truly make Cleveland the capital of the Great Lakes shipping industry. Five U.S.-Flag carriers direct their operations from Cleveland and their 28 ships represent 40 percent of the American Great Lakes fleet.
Cleveland is also the long-time home for the U.S. Coast Guard's Ninth District headquarters. The Rear Admiral commanding the Ninth District directs more than 1,000 Coast Guard personnel stationed at units and ships throughout the eight Great Lakes states. Ninth District Coast Guard icebreakers play a key role in keeping commerce moving to and from Ohio at the beginning and end of the navigation season.
Lake Carriers' Association, the sole voice representing U.S.-Flag Great Lakes vessel operators, has called Cleveland home port since 1880. Also based in Cleveland are three unions representing mariners and longshoremen, the largest towing company on the Great Lakes, the National Weather Service's Great Lakes Weather Forecasting Center, and the American Bureau of Shipping's Great Lakes Office.
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