R.G. Edmonson | Oct 19, 2011 3:50PM EDT
The release of a study showing the St. Lawrence Seaway system supports 226,800 jobs comes as maritime officials urge New York to prevent the shutdown of the waterway be easing the state’s ballast water standard.
More than 322 million metric tons were shipped on the seaway in 2010, according to a study completed by Martin Associates, a maritime consulting firm. Cargo traffic on the seaway, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Superior, has been strong this year, largely due to increased shipments of petroleum products and coal.
The governors of Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana have urged New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to ease New York’s ballast standard, which takes effect mid-August 2013. Cargo being shipped through the New York waters directly supported 31,314 jobs in 2010, the study stated.
“For the first time in the history of this transportation system, U.S. and Canadian stakeholders agreed to study economic impacts at the same time, using the same geographic scope, and employ the same study methodology,” said Craig Middlebrook, deputy administrator of the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp.
Contact R.G. Edmonson at bedmonson@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobinWash.
