Page 19: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 2020)

INSIghtS: Lake CarrIerS aSSoCIatIoN 2020 yearbook

The Authors

Rayburn & Peace

Thomas Rayburn (left) is Director of Environmental and

Regulatory Affairs and Eric Peace (right) is Director of

Operations and Communications at Lake Carriers’ As- sociation.

continued effcient funding the new lock could be ready to open lake Steamship Company scheduled for completion in 2022. in seven or so years. Next year’s budget request from the Presi- Both vessels are being built in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin by Fin- dent is substantial, $123.2 million, but falls short of FY 21 ef- cantieri Bay Shipbuilding. Meanwhile, owners and operators fcient funding by $50 million. Either Congress will have to fll of the U.S.-fag Great Lakes feet spent $97 million on regular the gap, the Corps will have to move discretionary workplan maintenance and upgrades at shipyards throughout the Great funds to the project as they did this year, or a combination of Lakes during the 2020 winter layup.

both to keep construction on schedule. Economic predictions for a recovery are broad and even

Work continues on two new U.S.-fag Great Lakes vessels, divergent. How and when U.S. manufacturing rebounds and known as “lakers.” The frst to sail, later this summer, will be commercial maritime on the Great Lakes responds will be un-

VanEnkevort Tug and Barge’s MICHIGAN TRADER, a 740- folding over in the coming months and sailing seasons but as foot self-unloading articulated tug/barge unit. The other vessel always, the U.S.-fag Great Lakes feet is nimble and ready to is a 639-foot self-propelled, self-unloading vessel for the Inter- move cargo.

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