Next week, across July 30 and 31, 2026, Chicago will host the American Great Lakes Ports Association conference.
This matters. As President of Chicago Propeller Club and founder of international maritime PR consultancy Polaris Media based in the city I often hear and see Chicago overlooked as a maritime city.
It is time to change this and promote Chicago’s status as the principle interior trade route of the Americas more seriously as a jobs and wealth creator – especially to the sectors driving maritime growth. This includes shipbuilding, autonomy, software and defense.
A key point here is that Chicago was built on its strategic maritime location – offering lake and river access. It was maritime first and other sectors like rail, architecture and finance followed.
Today Chicago remains the only Great Lakes port offering direct access to the Mississippi, American interior, Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic.
More than 19 million tons of cargo move through the Chicago port infrastructure each year. While nearby Burns Habor in Indiana handles a further three million tons.
Around 1,000 commercial vessels call annually, including approximately 200 ocean-going ships via the St. Lawrence Seaway.
The port supports thousands of jobs and sits at the nexus of the $6trillion Great Lakes regional economy which if it was a country would be the third biggest economy in the world.
Chicago and the Great Lakes are further home to massive variety of maritime businesses including ports, shipyards, vessel operators, manufacturers, logistics firms, insurers, finance and recreational marine businesses.
To join Chicago Propeller Club reception for the AGLPA head this way.
To join the AGLPA conference follow this link.