The American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA) is an organization representing the interests of the public port authorities on the U.S. side of the Great Lakes. The organization works to inform and influence public policies, primarily at the federal level, that foster maritime commerce and related employment in the Great Lakes region. Washington, DC

Great Lakes and Seaway Shipping Web Page, the Online source for Great Lakes commercial shipping information.

The Chamber of Marine Commerce provides a unified voice for sustainable growth of marine commerce in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, Arctic and East coasts. The CMC community consists of a uniquely broad spectrum of marine industry stakeholders, with a bi-national membership across 20 U.S. states and all 10 Canadian provinces – the only bi-national organization of its kind focused on commercial maritime interests. We represent not only marine industry service providers, but also their customers: large industrial companies that need competitive marine systems and services in order to get goods and material to and from market. Ottawa, Ontario,Canada

The Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute (GLMRI) was established in 2004 to pursue research efforts in marine transportation, logistics, economics, engineering, environmental planning, and port management. The US Maritime Administration designated GLMRI as a National Maritime Enhancement Institute on June 1, 2005. The Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute is dedicated to developing and improving economically and environmentally sustainable maritime commerce on the Great Lakes through applied research. Superior, Wisconsin

Founded in 1992, Great Lakes Maritime Task Force promotes domestic and international shipping on the Great Lakes. With 86 members, it is the largest coalition to ever speak for the Great Lakes shipping community and draws its membership from both labor and management representing U.S.-flag vessel operators, shipboard and longshore unions, port authorities, cargo shippers, terminal operators, shipyards, and other Great Lakes interests. Toledo, Ohio

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System is a deep draft waterway extending 3,700 km (2,340 miles) from the Atlantic Ocean to the head of the Great Lakes, in the heart of North America. The St. Lawrence Seaway portion of the System extends from Montreal to mid-Lake Erie. Ranked as one of the outstanding engineering feats of the twentieth century, the St. Lawrence Seaway includes 13 Canadian and 2 U.S. locks.

Your Source for Information about U.S.-Flag Great Lakes Shipping. Lake Carriers’ Association (“LCA”) represents U.S.-flag vessel operators on the Great Lakes. The Association's 15 member companies operate 56 U.S.-flag self-propelled vessels and tug/barge units (“lakers”) ranging in length from 494 to 1,013.5 feet. These vessels can carry more than 115 million tons of cargo in a year. Iron ore, limestone and coal are the primary commodities carried by LCA members. Other cargos include cement, salt, sand and grain. The vast majority of cargos carried by U.S.-flag lakers move between U.S. ports, in what is commonly referred to as the Jones Act trades.

The USGLSA is an association of vessel agents. What is a vessel agent? An agent represents a vessel's Owner or Operator at each U.S. port-of-call and takes care of the needs of that vessel and its crew while there. Commonly, the vessel has just sailed from a foreign port and has numerous governmental regulatory requirements which must be met. The agent has a working knowledge of each requirement and stays current as they change - which they often do! A vessel agent can help with any vessel operation and need - whether commercial or private, international or domestic - while in the port(s) they cover. In fact, the vessel agent is the best first call if there are questions about a particular port, terminal, or operation.