CHICAGO, IL — The Administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) has told a sold event at Chicago Propeller Club that the Great Lakes has a key role to play in the US Maritime Action Plan and SHIPS Act.
The reception staged at Chicago Yacht Club to kick off the American Great Lakes Ports Association conference brought together more than 100 senior maritime figures from across North America including all the Great Lakes Port Directors.
Delivering the keynote address, Captain Stephen Carmel MARAD Administrator said:
“The whole MARAD team is here. We hear a lot about maritime dominance, we are really stepping out on it, it’s not some paper program. We’re not here not to whine about what used
to be, we are here to build what we’re going to be. The Maritime Action Plan and the Ships Act have an awful lot of stuff in it that’s great. But it is not focused 100 per cent on salt water activity it applies as much to the Great Lakes which is why we are here. We’re here to tell you where we can help you and listen to you and what you need. But most of all we’re to make sure that as we rebuild the maritime industrial base and return our country to maritime industry prominence that is rightfully ours the Great Lakes and inland waterways system comes with us. We all survive or fail together, the Great Lakes, the Coast and the Inland rivers we rise and fall together.”
Welcoming guests Chicago Propeller Club President Ben Pinnington, managing partner of maritime PR firm Polaris Media, told the audience it is vital to raise awareness of the richness of maritime on Great Lakes.
“It is wonderful to welcome so many people from all over North America,” he said. “Chicago is a city built on maritime but to attract investment we have to get people here. Maritime people. Seeing is believing. There is no room for nostalgia about what Great Lakes shipping used to be. We have to look to the future to attract the best businesses. When I look at my business’s growth, and what is driving the future of maritime, I see defense, shipbuilding, autonomy, software, electric ships and cyber. That’s where the Great Lakes needs to be or we risk missing the boat. We want the Great Lakes to be part of the Maritime Action Plan, being home to 12,000 shipyard businesses and nearly 40 shipyard facilities plus all the ports and professional services businesses here. We have so much to offer. Chicago is the only Great Lakes port offering direct access by vessel to the Atlantic, Mississippi and Gulf of Mexico.”
Representing the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, Mike McCoshen reflected on five decades in the maritime industry and his enduring connection to the port community.
“The port industry is where I came from—you are my people,” said McCoshen.
Captain Rihanna Macron, Commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan, highlighted the strategic importance of the Great Lakes, describing the region as “arguably the third-largest economic region in the world” and emphasizing the shared responsibility of safeguarding one of North America’s most important transportation systems.
Chris Carr, Managing Partner of Schouest, Bamdas, Soshea, BenMaier (SBSB) law firm and the event’s headline sponsor, thanked club sponsors saying their support enabled the club to raise awareness of the importance of the Great Lakes to the US maritime industry.
Brian Oszakiewski, Executive Director of the American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA), recognized the continued growth of the conference and emphasized the importance of collaboration among Great Lakes ports, noting that “Ports are partners.”
Representing the Délégation du Québec à Chicago, Jean-François Hould reinforced the longstanding partnership between Canada and the United States and the importance of continued cross-border collaboration to strengthen Great Lakes trade and economic prosperity.
Representing Aon, Admiral Sponsor, Brooke Baldassari, National Commodities Leader, discussed the importance of resilience, risk management, and partnership in enabling global commerce. As she noted, “Resilience isn’t just about managing risk—it’s about enabling growth.”
The evening concluded with a blessing from Father Mike Enright of Stella Maris Great Lakes who appealed for support for seafarer welfare and the van the charity operates for mariners visiting the region.
The next Chicago Propeller Club event is October 28 – a port update from Port of Chicago and Ports of Indiana.
About the Chicago Propeller Club
The Chicago Propeller Club is a nonprofit maritime organization first established in 1933 dedicated to promoting the maritime industry throughout the Great Lakes region. The club was rechartered in 2024 after a 15 year hiatus.
Sponsors of Chicago Propeller Club include the Ports of Indiana, American Great Lakes Ports Association, Central Marine Logistics, Armada Risk Partners, Logistec, ACBL, Illinois Marine Towing, HDR, JD Fields, SBSB Eastham law firm, Western Great Lakes Pilots Association, Wendella Boats, City Cruises, 5R Enterprises, Inspectre Solutions and Polaris Media.
To join Chicago Propeller Club visit: www.chicagopropellerclub.com