Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority increased its international cargo shipments during the 2012 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.
The Pacesetter Award was instituted to honor the achievements of ports aggressively marketing international exports and imports. SLSDC Advisory Board Member Dr. Arthur Sulzer presented the award today to Paul Toth, President and CEO for Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. Eight Great Lakes Saeway ports earned the honour for the 2012 navigation season
Overall, though, the Port had a difficult year, registering 9.1 million metric tonnes of cargo during the 2012 navigation season, which was well below the 2011 level of 11.5 million tonnes. General cargo increased 32 per cent mainly due to increased shipments of aluminum to Midwest Terminals, which increased 88 per cent from 2011 to 2012. Grain shipments through the Seaway from ADM and The Andersons also increased over 36 per cent.
The Pacesetter Award is presented annually to U.S. Great Lakes Seaway ports that have increased their international tonnage shipped through the St. Lawrence Seaway in comparison to the previous year.