Image source, Getty ImagesLake Erie, one of five bodies of freshwater that make up the Great Lakes system, might not seem like a solution to America's supply chain issues.
According to Stephen Starr, it may just be that.
The Port of Cleveland is connected to the Atlantic Ocean through a system of canals and locks. The port handled more cargo last year. April's numbers were double what they were in the year before.
David Gutheil, chief commercial officer at the port, said that they are getting more calls from people who don't want to use a small inland port.
With major ports along the US east and west coasts struggling with cargo delays due to supply chain issues caused by everything from China's Covid lockdowns to Russia's war in Ukraine,Shippers are looking to long-ignored ports as a way to get supplies
The Great Lakes' potential was spotted by global shipping companies.
An additional vessel was added to the route in August.
In November of last year, one ship sailed all the way from Shanghai to Cleveland, avoiding major ports in southern California, Virginia and New Jersey in order to save time.
Incoming international cargo companies are not the only ones who want to use the Great Lakes ports. The Port of Cleveland is working with a Texas-based company to get cargo from the Gulf of New Mexico up to Lake Erie for shipment to Europe.
Mr Gutheil said that Texas cannot get vessel or container capacity.
The shipping industry used to be dominated by ports located on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In the 1800s and 1900s, the Great Lakes ports were used as a vital North American maritime highway for transporting agricultural and other bulk products.
The decline of the Great Lakes ports can be traced back to the deregulation of the rail and trucking industries in 1980.
The Port of Duluth-Superior was the largest freshwater port in the world when it was at its peak in the 1950's. The amount of cargo it handled fell steeply.
As America's major coastal ports struggle to meet demand, the Great Lakes may be able to expand their capacity. The Port of Cleveland only moves about 10,000 containers a year but could potentially handle 100,000.
A customs station has been added to the Port of Duluth-Superior, which is the largest in the Great Lakes.
The first overseas shipment of containers set sail in May.
It's not easy to sail for the northern ports. Shipping activity was affected by reports of a shortage of ships.
The 15 canal locks that allow ships to move between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean are not maintained and kept ice-free.
Access between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic wouldn't be possible if parts of southern Great Lakes don't freeze over in winter.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Great Lakes are not open for 12 months of the year, which is one of the major hurdles to overcome.
Supply chain managers want to have a reliable supply chain for the entire year.
Many ships can't pass through the locks because they're only capable of facilitating vessels that are no larger than 78 feet. The Ever Given ship, which blocked the canal for a week last year, is 192 feet tall.
Industry experts think these issues can be solved.
Several Canadian ports have recently pursued the idea of establishing a shuttle service for smaller vessels. The Canadian maritime transport firm, Desgagnés, started a service that ships close to 300 containers between Hamilton, Ontario, and the Port of Montreal.
There could be more supply shortages in the months ahead due to labour disputes and railroad congestion.
People in the Midwest say they are helping.
If you have 10 or 20 ports, then you can start talking about change in the supply chain world.
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