Proceedings magazine is a communication tool for the Coast Guard's Marine Safety & Security Council. Each quarterly magazine focuses on a specific theme of interest to the marine industry.
Issue link: https://uscgproceedings.epubxp.com/i/707823
34 Proceedings Summer 2016 www.uscg.mil/proceedings Canada and the U.S. jointly manage. Additionally, U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard icebreaking operations are pivotal in keeping the shipping lanes open at the begin- ning of the navigation season. Inland River Port Perhaps less obvious, but of an equally important eco- nomic benefit, Milwaukee is an inland river port, as it's the northernmost transit point on Lake Michigan for inland river barges that travel to and from the Missis- sippi River system. This allows river barges to traverse between Milwaukee and the Gulf of Mexico, carrying steel, manufactured products, scrap metal, asphalt, and agricultural products. The Port of Milwaukee is also a conduit into the heartland of the United States via the access it has to the U.S. interstate highway system and the Canadian Pacific and Union Pacific railroads. This connectivity and geographic location pro- vide unique advantages that make the Port of Milwaukee an attractive destination for inbound vessel cargo as well as a port of origin for export. About the authors: Mr. Peter Hirthe is a senior trade development representative at the Port of Milwaukee, where he assists Port of Milwaukee partners with their facilities, logistics, and procedures. He focuses on maximizing their commercial suc- cess and bringing economic benefits to the Milwaukee region. CDR Dan Somma is an active duty Coast Guard officer who has served on all major U.S. coasts, including the Great Lakes. His tours have focused on facility security, marine safety, vessel inspection, and environmental protec- tion. He has published original research on energy production and authored articles on international trade, port security, and maritime history. Endnote: 1. Robert Kavcic, "Great Lakes Region: North America's Economic Engine," BMO Capital Markets report, May 2013, page 1. Owners ensure that U.S. Coast Guard marine inspectors approve laker repairs, fit-ups, repowering, and modifica- tions so that, come spring, the ships are ready to carry cargo. Foreign-flagged vessels also carry a variety of cargo, bringing in heavy equipment and steel for the region's manufacturing base and agricultural products like barley for the brewing industry. They then load out export products such as min- ing equipment and agricultural products like grain, wheat, and soybeans. Approximately 50 vessels annually transit to the Port of Milwaukee by sailing through the St. Law- rence Seaway System, "climbing" almost 600 feet from the Atlantic Ocean through a series of locks the governments of Beer storage tanks arrive from a ship. Photo courtesy of the Port of Milwaukee. For more information: Port statistics courtesy of the Port of Milwaukee. For more information, visit: http://city.milwaukee.gov/port. The cruise ship Hamburg, the largest cruise ship on the Great Lakes, vis- its the port with 400 European passengers. Photo courtesy of the Port of Milwaukee.