Environment

With superior fuel efficiency and fewer greenhouse gas emissions per metric ton-kilometre than trucking or rail, marine leads the way in environmentally smart transportation. Ships have fewer spills, fewer accidents and create less nuisance noise than trucks or trains.  The movement of millions of metric tons of cargo on the Great Lakes-Seaway System also plays a role in reducing road congestion and related negative impacts. The Great Lakes-Seaway marine industry is working to further reduce its environmental footprint by investing in new ships and technology.

• Ships help preserve North America’s energy resources. Great Lakes ships can carry vast amounts of cargo long distances on significantly less fuel than both trains and trucks. These vessels are, on average, 4 times more fuel-efficient than trucks and 1.75 times more fuel-efficient than trains.
• Ships have the smallest carbon footprint. Transportation greenhouse gases are directly related to fuel efficiency. Burning less fuel per metric ton-kilometre equates to fewer emissions being vented into the air.  A Great Lakes carrier produces 70 percent less carbon dioxide per metric ton/kilometre compared to trucks.
• Ships remove traffic from congested motorways. The largest Great Lakes vessels can carry 70,000 metric tons of cargo — the equivalent to 3,000 trucks or 700 rail cars. Smaller Seaway-sized ships carry roughly 25,000 metric tons of cargo. It would take 870 trucks or 225 rail cars to carry the same load.

Fuel Efficiency & Carbon Emissions