Canadian ship owners agree with Mowat Study - Decreasing Great Lakes Water Levels are a significant economic concern

OTTAWA, June 26, 2014 /CNW/ - Today's release of a report commissioned by the Council of the Great Lakes Region and conducted by the Mowat Centre for Public Policy at the University of Toronto on the Economic Impact of Declining Water Levels in the Great Lakes and St Lawrence River clearly demonstrates the enormous possible negative economic impact.  

"With an overall impact of nearly $2 billion to shipping, we are greatly concerned with what this ecological problem could do to our industry, which is such an important part of North American trade," said Canadian Shipowners Association President Robert Lewis-Manning. "It is clearly time for stakeholders to be engaged in understanding the consequences of doing nothing to protect this unique ecosystem and instead actively promote sustainable and safe transportation in this integrated system." The CSA, which was represented on the study's advisory committee, is supportive of efforts to examine long-term mitigation efforts.

Fully loaded ships make marine transportation the most efficient and cost effective mode of transportation for numerous commodities. Marine shipping serves many industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, construction, power generation, and mining. In 2013, Canadian flagged vessels conducting short-sea-shipping moved more than 60 million tonnes of cargo for import and export in Canada and the United States.

The CSA membership operates Canadian-flagged and uniquely designed ships on Canadian coastal, Arctic and inland waters, with highly skilled Canadian crew and is part of a $35B continental marine transportation system.  Recent investments of over $700 million in 14 new vessels, have positioned the industry for growth.  Marine transportation is the most sustainable form of transportation.

SOURCE: Canadian Shipowners Association

Robert Lewis-Manning, President, The Canadian Shipowners Association, 613-232-3539