American Great Lakes Ports Association

08/28/2026

The American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA) and the Great Lakes Alliance of Shipyards (GLAS) have formalized a new partnership bringing Great Lakes ports and shipyards together around shared priorities including American shipbuilding, economic growth, workforce development and infrastructure.

Signed during AGLPA 2026 in Chicago, the MOU marks the first formal partnership between the U.S. Great Lakes port and shipyard communities.

“This agreement brings our ports and shipyards together around a common vision: expanding American shipbuilding, supporting economic growth, creating skilled jobs, and reinforcing the Great Lakes as a vital part of our nation’s transportation and industrial infrastructure,” said Capt. Paul LaMarre III, President of AGLPA.

Capt. LaMarre and AGLPA Executive Director Brian Oszakiewski signed the agreement on behalf of AGLPA, alongside Patrick Kelly, CEO of Fraser Industries, signing on behalf of GLAS.

Read more:
https://www.marinelog.com/news/landmark-mou-formalizes-u-s-great-lakes-ports-and-shipyards-partnership/

Helping Maritime Professionals Make Informed Decisions

08/26/2026

Strong partnerships are essential to the success of the Great Lakes maritime system. As our Platinum Sponsor, the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) helped make AGLPA 2026 possible and brought valuable insight and perspective to discussions shaping the future of Great Lakes maritime commerce.

Administrator Mike McCoshen joined us to share his vision for the Seaway, with a focus on reliability, innovation, growth and expanding opportunities for cargo throughout the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System. Members of the GLS team also contributed throughout the conference, sharing their expertise on containerization, trade, infrastructure and other priorities for the region.

We are grateful to Administrator McCoshen, Sylvonica Madlock, Peter Hirthe, Jazmine Jurkiewicz and the entire GLS team for their partnership, leadership and commitment to the Great Lakes maritime community.

Great Lakes/Seaway Review recently highlighted Administrator McCoshen’s remarks at AGLPA 2026 and the opportunities ahead for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System. Read the article here:

https://seawayreview.com/great-lakes-stakeholders-discuss-reliability-and-cargo-expansion-at-annual-aglpa-conference/

More than 250 industry stakeholders from the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway region gathered for the 2026 AGLPA Conference in Chicago.

08/24/2026

“When America became the greatest industrial power the world had ever seen, it did not happen despite the Great Lakes. It happened because of them.”

At AGLPA 2026, U.S. Maritime Administrator Stephen M. Carmel delivered a strong message about the role of the Great Lakes in America’s maritime future, calling the region a national strategic asset and a critical part of rebuilding our nation’s shipbuilding and industrial base.

His remarks underscored something our Great Lakes port community knows well: the region’s ports, shipyards, manufacturers, workforce and transportation network are essential to American maritime strength.

Read the full Maritime Reporter and Engineering News article: https://www.marinelink.com/news/marads-carmel-great-lakes-central-541672

CHICAGO — July 30, 2026 —  The United States cannot rebuild its maritime strength by focusing solely on its ocean coasts. Instead…

08/21/2026

Port Green Bay is seeking tenants to lease 14.5 acres at a brand-new, state-of-the-art port facility, offering a unique opportunity to establish or expand operations at a strategic multimodal transportation hub.

As the westernmost port on Lake Michigan, Port Green Bay connects businesses to domestic and global markets through water, rail, and highway transportation — providing direct access to the heart of the Midwest.

Interested businesses, developers, and partners are invited to learn more about the opportunity and requirements in the full Request for Information (RFI).

🗓️ Deadline to Request a Meeting: September 1, 2026
🗓️ Proposals Due: October 15, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. CST
👉 View the full RFI: https://www.browncountywi.gov/departments/administration/purchasing/purchasing/

08/04/2026

⚓ Thank you for making AGLPA 2026 an incredible success! ⚓

We are sincerely grateful to everyone who joined us in Chicago and helped make this our largest Annual Summer Conference to date.

To our attendees, speakers, sponsors, members, and partners, thank you for your support, collaboration, and the expertise you shared throughout the conference. The overwhelming response to this year's event reflects the strength of the Great Lakes maritime community, and we're honored to bring everyone together each year.

We'll be sharing photos and conference highlights in the coming days. Thank you for being part of AGLPA 2026—we can't wait to see you again next year!

07/25/2026

⭐ We're proud to recognize our AGLPA 2026 Bronze Sponsors. ⭐

These organizations help strengthen the Great Lakes maritime community through their partnership, leadership, and commitment to our industry. We're grateful for their support and for helping make AGLPA 2026 possible.

A Special Thanks To:
DLZ
Great Lakes Commission
JD Fields & Company, Inc.: https://www.jdfields.com/
Anchor QEA, LLC
Littoral Services, LLC
The Great Lakes Towing Company and Great Lakes Shipyard
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers: https://gsgp.org/
Logistec
Collins Engineers, Inc.: https://www.collinsengr.com/
Bulk Storage Inc.
Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad: https://www.anacostia.com/our-companies/css/
SmithGroup
Marine Pollution Control Corporation
NORBIT Aptomar: https://norbit.com/oceans/aptomar
Warner Petroleum Corporation: https://warnerpetroleum.com/
shark&minnow
The Chamber of Marine Commerce
Floyd Zadkovich: https://www.floydzad.com/

07/24/2026

💎 Thank You to Our AGLPA 2026 Diamond Sponsors! 💎

We're proud to recognize our Diamond Sponsors for their exceptional generosity and support of AGLPA 2026. Their investment helps make this conference possible and reflects a strong commitment to the future of Great Lakes ports and maritime commerce.

A Sincere Thank You To:

Portsof Indiana
Duluth Seaway Port Authority
Port of Monroe
Ramboll: https://www.ramboll.com/
The Foth Companies

07/21/2026

⭐ A special thank you to our AGLPA 2026 Gold and Silver Sponsors! ⭐

Their partnership helps bring this conference to life and reflects a shared commitment to advancing maritime commerce on the Great Lakes. We appreciate their continued support and look forward to welcoming them to Chicago.

🌟 Gold Sponsor 🌟
Gouvernement du Québec

⚓ Silver Sponsors ⚓
Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority
Detroit Wayne County Port Authority
The Port of Cleveland
Illinois International Port District: https://www.iipd.com/
Chicago Propeller Club: https://chicagopropellerclub.com/
Lakes Pilates Pilots Association: https://www.lakespilots.com/
St. Lawrence Seaway Pilots: https://seawaypilots.com/slspa/
Western Great Lakes Pilots Association: https://www.wglpa.com/
Lake Carriers' Association: https://lcaships.com/
CSX

07/16/2026

⚓ AGLPA 2026 is on track to be our biggest conference yet!

Tomorrow we'll share our full conference agenda, featuring an outstanding lineup of maritime leaders and experts from across the Great Lakes, along with an updated attendee list.

Our discounted hotel room block has sold out, but rooms are still available at the Loews and nearby hotels. Late registration rates begin July 25, so secure your spot today!

⭐ Register: https://reg.eventmobi.com/aglpa-annual-conference-2026/register

⭐ Learn More: https://www.greatlakesports.org/aglpa2026/

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07/07/2026

Over 150 maritime leaders are already registered for AGLPA 2026. Is your name on the list?

⚓ See who's attending:
https://www.greatlakesports.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AGLPA26-AttendeeList-7-7.pdf

Registration rates increase and our discounted room block at the Loews Chicago ends Friday, July 10, so secure your spot today!

⚓ Register for AGLPA 2026:
https://reg.eventmobi.com/aglpa-annual-conference-2026/register

⚓ Learn more: https://www.greatlakesports.org/aglpa2026/