TOLEDO, Ohio, July 27, 2011 – The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority welcomes its colleagues to Toledo for the bi-annual meeting of the American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA) on Thurs., July 28, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Toledo. The AGLPA is an organization representing the interests of the public port authorities on the Great Lakes. The attendees will be comprised of Port Directors and CEOs from U.S. and Canadian Great Lakes Ports.
The Port of Toledo ranked second in the U.S. in 2010 in tonnage shipped and received on the Great Lakes. The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority registered strong increases in international cargo shipments during the 2010 navigation season, earning it the prestigious Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award from the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC), an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation. SLSDC Administrator Terry Johnson will present the award Thursday to Paul Toth, President and CEO of the Port Authority at a noon luncheon meeting at the Crown Plaza.
The Port of Toledo registered nearly 4.8 million metric tons of overseas cargo through the Saint Lawrence Seaway during the 2010 navigation season, over 16 percent more than in the 2009 season, earning the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority its 11th Pacesetter award. In total, the Port of Toledo registered more than 9.8 million metric tons for the entire season via 576 vessel calls.
“The reasons for the increase in tonnage include a rebounding economy resulting in more coal, iron ore, and pig iron moving through the Seaway,” said Paul Toth. “Our cargo volumes are currently outpacing the volume from our last several years. We are fully utilizing our new equipment including the recently added Mantsinen material handler – the largest Mantsinen in North America - to handle additional cargo, particularly wind components.”
The Pacesetter Award is presented annually to U.S. Great Lakes Seaway ports that register increases in international cargo tonnage shipped through the Seaway during the navigation season. Originally known simply as the Pacesetter Award, the name change honors long-time Seaway trade analyst Bob Lewis who passed away in 2001.
It is the mission of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority to continuously leverage our strategic geographic position, resources and economic development proficiency to provide increased business opportunities—built upon and around our innovative transportation and logistics expertise—while promoting our community and region within the global marketplace. We will accomplish this through unmatched speed and efficiency of service, collaborative and strategic partnerships, community stewardship and the continued generation and execution of new ideas and innovations. www.toledoportauthority.org --- 419-243-8251
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