The five-year plan builds on the GSGP Regional Maritime Initiative, launched in 2013 to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of the region’s maritime transportation system. The initiative includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Québec and Wisconsin. 

The plan identifies progress since the 2016 Maritime Strategy, including more than $1 billion in state and provincial investments in the system, a 125% increase in Great Lakes cruise passengers and the start of construction of a new lock at Sault Ste. Marie. It also points to a coordinated effort among multiple ports to develop intermodal container shipping options. 

At the same time, the plan notes that the maritime system remains underused and that some traditional cargoes are experiencing structural declines. The 2026-2031 plan therefore emphasizes improving the reliability, safety and cost competitiveness of the system. 

Plan Highlights 

The plan’s central theme is building new markets. The GSGP intends to support studies examining the growth potential of maritime transportation, including baseline assessments of commodities moving through the region’s transportation network. 

The initiative also plans to support maritime system marketing and strengthen relationships with trading partner ports, including the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and other European ports. Those relationships are intended to help identify international trade opportunities and support maritime business development missions. 

Another focus is understanding the costs of shipping on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system and the factors contributing to cost increases. The plan calls for studies on shipping costs, continued exploration of ways to extend and optimize the navigation season, and support for investments aimed at improving system reliability. 

Among the reliability measures identified are additional Coast Guard icebreakers and deployment of the Voyage Information System (VIS). The plan also calls for development of a regional shipbuilding strategy intended to support the shipbuilding industry and its role in regional economic development. 

Cruise tourism remains part of the region’s maritime development efforts. The previous five-year plan identified cruise tourism as a major area for system development, and the new plan notes substantial growth in regional cruise activity since 2021. GSGP’s cruise development strategy is now managed through the Cruise the Great Lakes program, which it administers. 

The initiative also plans to provide states and provinces with technical assistance as they develop or update maritime strategies and plans. Other efforts include identifying regional priorities, conducting research and highlighting state and provincial investments in maritime infrastructure. 

Feature photo courtesy of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation