American Great Lakes Ports Association

10/23/2026

🏆Congratulations to Duluth Seaway Port Authority and Duluth Cargo Connect on being named 2026 Port/Terminal Operator of the Year at the Heavy Lift Awards!

This international recognition is a testament to the expertise, investment and commitment that have made Duluth a leader in heavy-lift and project cargo. An exceptional achievement for the entire team and a proud moment for the Great Lakes maritime community!

📣Read more: https://duluthport.com/news/duluth-cargo-connect-named-2026-port-terminal-operator-of-the-year/

10/20/2026

USA TODAY recently highlighted the important role of Great Lakes ports as the “hidden backbone” of regional economies, driving economic growth, creating jobs and connecting communities to markets around the world.

The article features the ongoing transformation of the Port of Monroe and its investments in infrastructure and expanded cargo opportunities.

As Paul C. LaMarre III, Port Director and President of the American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA), explains:

“The ultimate success story is when you have created investment, job and tax revenue for the local community.”

Read the full article:

When an engine runs quietly, it doesn’t attract much attention. The same goes for economic engines. Take Great Lakes and inland river ports across the United States. They do not draw much national attention, but there is much happening.

10/09/2026

AGLPA is headed back to Chicago! Join us October 28 as the Chicago Propeller Club hosts AGLPA Board members, Erik Varela (Illinois International Port District), Ryan McCoy (Ports of Indiana) and Benjamin Timm (Port Milwaukee) to discuss major investments, new opportunities and developments across Great Lakes ports.

Thank you to the Chicago Propeller Club for bringing our maritime community together for this event!

Wednesday, October 28, 2026
5:00–8:00 p.m.
Guinness Open Gate Brewery, West Loop
901 W. Kinzie St., Chicago

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/great-lakes-ports-update-reception-tickets-1998373165934?aff=oddtdtcreator

⚓ We hope to see you there!

09/01/2026

Congratulations to the Great Lakes ports honored with the Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award at AGLPA 2026 in Chicago!

Presented by the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS), the Pacesetter Award recognizes U.S. ports that increased international cargo tonnage shipped through the St. Lawrence Seaway compared with the previous year.

GLS Administrator Mike McCoshen joined us to present the awards to seven of this year’s recipients:

⚓ Port of Buffalo
⚓ Port Green Bay
⚓ Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor
⚓ Lorain Port and Finance Authority
⚓ Port Milwaukee
⚓ Port of Monroe
⚓ Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority

Congratulations to each port and the teams behind their success!

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/