Last week, the U.S. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) announced that two U.S. ports in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System received the Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award for increases in international cargo tonnage shipped through their ports during the 2023 navigation season.
“Great Lakes ports play a key role in moving goods through our nation’s supply chains and lowering costs for consumers, as I recently saw firsthand with visits to ports in Menominee, Manitowoc, and Milwaukee,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This year’s winners reflect the vital importance of these ports and are a credit to the skill and dedication of workers who do so much for our freight systems.”
More than 241,000 jobs and $35 billion in economic activity are supported annually by movement of various cargoes on the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System. The two ports earning the Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award for 2023 are the Illinois International Port District (Chicago, Ill.) and the Port of Green Bay (Wis.).
“Congratulations to the two Great Lakes ports being recognized as GLS Pacesetter Award recipients for their achievements during the 2023 Seaway navigation season,” said GLS Administrator Adam Tindall-Schlicht. “Their sustained high performance is a testament to the hard work and resilience of countless, dedicated Great Lakes port professionals. Their leadership and commitment have kept the North American maritime economy thriving, reflecting the dedication and vision across the Great Lakes region.”
The Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award was established in 1992 to recognize the achievements of U.S. ports whose activities result in increasing international tonnage shipped through the St. Lawrence Seaway, in comparison with the previous year. The Pacesetter Award name was officially changed in 2001 to posthumously honor the noteworthy career of GLS Logistics Director Robert J. Lewis, who was instrumental in developing and implementing the GLS’s trade development program.
