The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) announced that tolls for the 2013 navigation season will increase by 3%. Following a five-year freeze on toll rates, the modest increase in tolls underscores the SLSMC’s determination to maintain the positive momentum generated by its market development initiatives.
Over 39 million tons of cargo transited the Seaway in 2012, representing a 4% increase in volume. The increase in tonnage testifies to both the economic recovery taking place within the Seaway’s client base and the emergence of new trade patterns.
The Great Lakes Seaway System navigation system supports over 227,000 jobs and $35 billion of economic activity annually in the U.S. and Canada. Since its inception in 1959, more than 2.5 billion tons of cargo valued at over $375 billion have moved via the Seaway. The SLSMC remains dedicated to leveraging technology to enhance the Seaway’s performance, promoting the economic and environmental advantages tied to marine transportation, and attracting new cargoes to the Seaway.
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