• 3 min de lectura
• 3 min de lectura
The American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA) and the Great Lakes Alliance of Shipyards (GLAS) have signed a new agreement aimed at strengthening shipbuilding, port infrastructure and maritime commerce across the Great Lakes.
The memorandum of understanding, announced Wednesday, marks the first formal partnership between the region's U.S. port and shipyard communities. The agreement was signed July 31 during AGLPA's annual conference in Chicago.
Under the MOU, the two groups will coordinate on domestic shipbuilding, vessel repair and modernization, fleet renewal, cargo growth, workforce development and federal maritime policy.
The partnership comes as Washington pushes to rebuild the U.S. maritime industrial base and expand domestic shipbuilding capacity. Great Lakes ports and shipyards see an opportunity for the region to play a larger role in that effort.
"The Great Lakes have long served as one of America's most strategic maritime gateways, and their continued success depends on the strength of the industries that support them," said Capt. Paul LaMarre III, president of AGLPA.
LaMarre said bringing ports and shipyards together would help expand American shipbuilding, create skilled jobs and reinforce the Great Lakes as a key part of the country's transportation and industrial infrastructure.
Patrick Kelly, CEO of Fraser Industries, signed the agreement on behalf of GLAS.
"By working together, shipyards and ports can expand domestic vessel construction, improve supply-chain resilience, invest in skilled workers, and ensure this region remains one of the nation's premier centers of maritime commerce and industrial capability," Kelly said.
The agreement also seeks closer coordination on new cargo and export opportunities, as well as investment in port and shipyard infrastructure and recruitment and training of maritime workers.
John A. Witte Jr., president and CEO of Donjon Marine, said closer cooperation could help identify opportunities for new vessel construction, repair and modernization while supporting the commercial activity needed to sustain the Great Lakes maritime economy.
"The Great Lakes have the industrial capacity, skilled workforce, and technical expertise to play a leading role in the resurgence of American shipbuilding," added Jan Allman, CEO of Fincantieri Marinette Marine.
The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system provides a direct maritime connection between the industrial heartland of the United States and international markets. The groups said strengthening the region's shipyards and ports could help expand that role while supporting broader national efforts to increase U.S. maritime capacity.
The MOU is voluntary and non-binding but establishes a standing framework for the two organizations to work together on shared priorities and federal policy.
AGLPA Executive Director Brian Oszakiewski said the organizations also expect the coalition to grow.
"This is about far more than signing a document," Oszakiewski said. "We are building a lasting relationship between two industries whose futures are closely connected."
Additional shipyards and maritime organizations may join the partnership in the future with approval from the original signatories.
